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Effective Personalised Learning for the Masses

by | Feb 12, 2018

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In this always on, always connected world, learning actually never stops. It happens automatically whenever you open your favorite apps, browse YouTube or play games.

And more than that, this always on, always connected world of mobile apps, social media, MOOC’s and real-time messaging means you can personalise everything. You can choose how you get your information. You can choose how you learn.

Whole Brain® learning experience

As someone who designs and delivers more traditional classroom-based learning programs, I also have to provide learning that is personalised. Even when working with many individuals at the one time, I have to enable everyone to learn in their own best ways.

Each one of us as a learner is a unique human being with a unique learning style. Think about your own experience. You probably did much better in some subjects than others. You probably responded better to some teaching methods than others. You probably retained some material more accurately and for a longer period of time than other material delivered in a different way.

Your unique learning style is the result of the brain you were born with, combined with the years of experience that have developed into your own distinctive learning approaches over the course of your life.

Many traditional learning programs whether online or in the classroom failed because they weren’t positioned to meet the learning style needs of their target population.

We know from our research that with any population of a significant size, you’ll find that the full spectrum of thinking and learning styles are represented. As you curate content and determine what to make available, particularly for those learning points that are essential, your best approach is to create a Whole Brain® learning experience by offering a tapestry of methods that appeal to all thinking and learning preferences.

The Whole Brain® Learning Considerations model, shows how different thinkers and learners learn best.

It’s easy to get caught up in all the options, technology and content now available. But if it’s not serving the most important of your objectives, it’s not adding value.

Think about what will best serve your design, your audience, and your organisation within its constraints. Keep it simple and always, always keep the brain in mind. You are, after all, a learner yourself. Put together a whole-brained team to help you evaluate your options and think this through. Then do a reality check.

Ask yourself and your team:

  1. What are our objectives for the learners, for our team and for the business? Does the technology add value? Have we tested it? What will we track to measure success?
  2. What guidelines do we need to have in place? How will it work? What are the security or other implications?
  3. Who is our audience? How well does this respond to their needs? Are we helping them create successful learning paths and experiences vs. providing a repository of information?
  4. What’s our overall vision for self-directed, personalised learning? How can we challenge ourselves to look at learning design and delivery in new ways?

Personalised learning can be delivered at scale. To get the flexibility, speed, learning and outcomes you and your employees need, start by educating all learners about their learning and thinking styles, demonstrating that each has the ability to think and learn beyond their individual preferences. Only then can the participant “own” their learning objectives, take responsibility for their success and get the support to grow.

Do you have a Conference or a PD Day in the pipeline? Michael Morgan, Rosemi Fitchett, and Andrew Stagg are all available for Keynote Speaking Engagements. These Whole Brain® Thinking sessions can be in the context of your corporate or educational setting and tailored to your particular audience and theme. They can also include a workshop session if desired. Click here to read more. Call 1300 558 524 to book your Keynote.

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