Tag: active learning


The Tension Between Content And Process In Facilitated Conference Learning Experiences

Have you ever attended a conference education session because of the presenter and not the content? (I think most of us have.) Have you ever been surprised when a full day workshop ended? You were so engaged that time flew by without you realizing it. If you’ve had these types of experiences, you’ve witnessed firsthand … [Read more…]

Sagacious And Substantive Gists We Should Appreciate, Comprehend And Respect Regarding Learning

Learning: it is probably one of the most misunderstood and misapplied concepts today. Many of us assume learning results from attending a class. We believe that our brains are like sponges that just absorb whatever it hears or sees. We presume that learning is a byproduct of listening to a lecture. We’ve even given names … [Read more…]

Increasing Active Learning Yields Big Results Infographic

Dr. Russell Mumper, Vice Dean of the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC Chapel Hill, decided to try the flipped classroom concept. He knew that with the explosion of information there was no way to teach his students everything. Instead he used his content to teach them how to become active, lifelong learners. He then … [Read more…]

Do Your Suppliers Habitually Skip Out On Your Conference Education?

Do you know where your suppliers are? Seriously, do you? Are they attending your conference education? Or just hanging around for the networking and social events? Side-by-Side Learning Should Be a Must for Suppliers The home page of the Meetings Mean Business website sums up the coalition’s main message: “Great things happen when people come … [Read more…]

Speakers: Covering Content Actually Obscures Understanding

Education is one way to improve ourselves personally and professionally. Whenever we find ourselves lacking knowledge, understanding or skills for a specific job task, we take a class. Or attend a conference. Or participate in a webinar. Or read a book. Sounds really simple. Right? Well, it’s not. The challenge with most education is our … [Read more…]

Conferences Are Providing Inferior Education Through Lectures

Conferences are providing inferior education if all they provide is didactic, presenter monologue lectures. Yes, that’s right. The speaker lecture is ineffective and inferior! If all your attendees do is sit and listen passively to speakers, you’re providing bad conference education! At least that’s what 2001 Physics Nobel Prize recipient, Stanford professor and former director … [Read more…]

These Conference Presentation Myths Cramp The Attendee Experience

Most conference organizers see attendees as consumers of the conference’s information. Little thought is given to seeing attendees as active participants in their own learning and experience. 8 Myths That Restrict The Attendee Experience Here are eight conference presentation myths that you should avoid. Myth 1: The lecture or panel best serves all conference attendees. … [Read more…]

21st Century Revolutionary Conferences Have Transformed The Traditional Education Session

Conferences that focus primarily on lecture-based methods are becoming increasingly difficult to defend! There is ample evidence that the lecture creates phony learning, along with the inability to retain and apply what has been heard. Packed conference sessions and smile-sheet summary evaluations only indicate that attendees can successfully sit through dreary lectures. It does not … [Read more…]

Five Myths Of Interactive, Participatory Learning For STEM Conferences

It’s one of the most common excuses I hear from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics/Medical) conference organizers today… “As ______________ (insert appropriate STEM word) attendees, they won’t participate in interactive sessions or discussions. They don’t want to be actively involved. They don’t like to talk. They came to hear from an expert. We can’t leave … [Read more…]

Adding Active Learning Strategies To Passive Video Watching To Increase Effectiveness

Watching online video has gone from being a niche activity to mainstream. The implications of online video growth are huge for brands, organizations as well as learning. Yet watching a video is a passive experience. And often our minds jump to couch potato mode, conditioned by watching years of TV in passive mindsets. Tips To … [Read more…]