Popular Blog Posts

Crazy Facilitation Favorites

On the LinkedIN group, “Learning, Education, and Training Professionals Group,” Phuong Nguyen posted the question: “What are your crazy facilitation ideas that have worked or you’d love to try?” I reposted the wonderful question again on the group called “Effecti... Read More

The Best Teacher Supply Guide for Back-to-School

Most teachers are familiar with Back-to-School Classroom Supply Lists. Typically, they included pens, colored pencils, dry-erase markers, notebooks, and the other usual staples that are readily available at office supply stores. These may be perfect for your learners, but unfortunately, they leave t... Read More

Why we shouldn’t abandon Starbuck’s “#RaceTogether”

Starting “The Conversation” In early April, 2015, Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, reflected on the fatal shootings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and tried to do right. He introduced the “RaceTogether” campaign as a way to get people talking about race relations in the U.S. Unfortunate... Read More

"Kooshball-ism"?

I must admit I was a bit taken aback when I read one trainer’s assertion that: “‘Kooshball-ism,’ as I like to refer to all the gizmos and tactics, which are espoused in the oh-so-many books and Trainers Warehouse catalogs, is so 1980’s-1990’s. Our profession has e... Read More

Dealing with cell phones

Cell phones can be a challenge for every teacher and trainer these days. Here are some suggestions and anecdotes to set expectations in mature, respectful, or funny ways. Many of these were drawn from a series of LinkedIN discussions. Have an adult conversation about it! For the sales people I tra... Read More

Motivating learning: "Nobody ever washes a rental car"

I started off the morning looking for some motivational words of wisdom and fell upon Scott Simmerman‘s LinkedIN contribution saying, “Nobody ever washes a rental car.” And, “if you want a teenager to wash the car, make it hers or his.” The reality is, we’re more ... Read More

Teaching the Learning Virtues

Maybe it’s the fact that I have two elementary school-aged boys that this article on virtues captured my attention. Ironically, it addresses teaching virtues in college. However, I believe facilitators and teachers should always model these five virtues, whether we’re teaching young stud... Read More

Pop quizzes? Nah, let’s play!

It was finals week at my son’s school and I asked him if he was ready for his chemistry test. He explained that he’d been studying all week, day and night, and, yes, he was ready. Despite his assurances and confidence, he “coulda done better.” If I really wanted to help i... Read More

The Bygone Lecture

I’m surprised when I talk to college students and professors these days and hear that lectures are still a common method of instruction. This week, however, I came across two sources that challenge the old tradition. The first was a study of Astro 101 (that is, Introductory Astrology) ... Read More

For a True Learning Experience, Put Yourself in Their Shoes

Back to School You may not remember what it’s like to be a student. I had forgotten until I went to “back-to-school nights” so I could meet my children’s teachers. I’ve been to plenty of conferences where I get to (have to?) sit and listen to presentations. Even when th... Read More