Helping Speakers Move From Dispensers Of Information To Facilitators Of Learning December 2, 2013 by Jeff Hurt The greatest sign of success for a speaker is not a full room and positive smile-sheet summaries that only indicate attendees can successfully sit through long lectures. The greatest sign of success for a speaker is to be able to say, “The audience is now working on the content as if I did not exist!” … [Read more…] Filed Under: Speaker Coaching Tagged With: , adult learning strategies, conference best practices, conferences, facilitator, learner-centric, meeting professional, speaker tips
Five Myths Of Interactive, Participatory Learning For STEM Conferences October 11, 2013 by Jeff Hurt 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…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , active learning, adult learning strategies, collaborative learning, education best practices, interactive, participatory learning
Adding Active Learning Strategies To Passive Video Watching To Increase Effectiveness October 1, 2013 by Jeff Hurt 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…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , active learning, adult learning strategies, education best practices, online education, online learning, video
Cheat Sheet: Using Group Talk As Discussions For Conference Education August 22, 2013 by Jeff Hurt The evidence is loud and clear that peer discussions are more effective than lectures if memory and knowledge retention, attitude, behavior and skill change, and learning are the goals. Just dividing a traditional lecture into 10 minute chunks and then giving the audience two to ten-minute breaks for time for discussion increases learning. How Discussions … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , active learning, active participation, adult learning, adult learning principles, adult learning strategies, conference best practices, conference education, conferences, discussions, lecture
Five Ways To Combine Conference Lectures With More Effective Education August 13, 2013 by Jeff Hurt In principle, there are many education methods that could replace conference lectures. The research is loud and clear that the majority of these education methods are more effective than the conference lecture. Yet, the conference lecture dominates the most conference education. Yes, the lecture has a place. Unfortunately, conference organizers give it too much prominence. … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , active learning, active participation, adult learning, adult learning principles, adult learning strategies, conference best practices, conferences, lecture
Want To Know Why Your Conference Fails At Changing Behavior? August 12, 2013 by Jeff Hurt The traditional lecture, the primary education method of your conference, fails at promoting learning! Yes, it’s true. The conference lecture is only good for transmitting information. (Bligh 1970, 2000). It is not good for changing attitudes, behaviors or skills. (Bligh 1970, 2000) The Lecture Is Good For Teachers Bad For Learners As long as your … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , active learning, active participation, adult learning, adult learning principles, adult learning strategies, conference best practices, conferences, lecture
Overcoming These Six Barriers To Audience Resistance To Participation July 24, 2013 by Jeff Hurt Even when you’ve adequately communicated the transition from passive attendee to active participant, some audience members will still resist. You’re challenging their comfort zone of passively sitting in a lecture. You are now asking them to engage on a different level which requires being fully present and doing something. And you’re challenging their past school … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education, Experience Design Tagged With: , adult learning, adult learning principles, adult learning strategies, brain science education, brain-friendly conferences, conference best practices, conference education, learner-centric, meeting planning best practices, participant-centric, presentation best practices
Aligning Conference Schedules With Neuroscience To Avoid The Attendee Overwhelm Epidemic March 14, 2013 by Jeff Hurt Too many conferences foster attendee information overload. The plethora of presenters pushing information at warp speeds cause fragmented attention, overburden brains and data excess. It’s a silent epidemic that cause stagnate mental engagement. And our conference schedules stretch attendees in ways that may have bigger implications than just unhealthy eating. They cause mental disconnection. Seven … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education, Experience Design Tagged With: , adult learning, adult learning strategies, andragogy, associations, conference best practices, conferences, presentation best practices
Why Participant-Centered Education Rules March 11, 2013 by Jeff Hurt Participant-Centered Education from Jeff Hurt Our current association adult education is a victim to an outdated teacher- and expert-centered model. It has its roots in puritan beliefs that wisdom is evil and the less we know, the more innocent we are. To succeed we must move out of the didactic traditional training box. We must … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , adult learning, adult learning strategies, andragogy, associations, conference best practices, conferences, presentation best practices
Why Speakers And Attendees Resist Participant-Centered Education February 25, 2013 by Jeff Hurt Once you as the conference organizer are convinced that you want to move your education to more learner centric approaches, with a focus on the attendee as participant and learner, you may discover that your speakers do not respond with the same zeal. In reality, speakers and attendees may resist the new approach both passively … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , adult learning, adult learning principles, adult learning strategies, brain science education, brain-friendly conferences, conference best practices, conference education, learner-centric, meeting planning best practices, participant-centric, presentation best practices