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Category: BRAIN SCIENCE
For over 30 years, Trainers Warehouse has sold tools and resources to promote active, brain-based learning. Trainers frequently ask us how they can get buy-in from managers. Facilitators of learning view games and fidgets as important tools of their trade, but managers sometimes see them only as “toys.” As such, we’re on the lookout for brain science research that supports the learning theory and applies the neuroscience of learning.
Criticism, Feedback and the Power of Praise
A good leader knows how to give feedback and praise. Just ask Kim Scott, whose TED Talk on Radical Candor, transformed our understanding of what it means to be a good boss. Certainly, criticism may be hard to take, but withholding feedback doesn’t do anyone any favors. Scott’s “r... Read More
Building Relationships through Better Communication
When opposing parties get to the negotiating table, they too often dive into the meat of the deal and begin arguing for their perspective. We see that in how our government operates today and in how people discuss politics, family matters, work challenges, and more. It’s time to STOP, take a s... Read More
How do you promote core values in your company?
YFS Magazine (Young, Fabulous and Self-employed) ran an article not too long ago on “100 Core Values from 15 Winning Companies.” They looked at a range of companies, including Zappos, Toms Shoes, Whole Foods, Accenture, Teach for America, Rackspace, A Weber, Barnes & Noble, Google, American ... Read More
Taming distractions: How Fidget toys can productively use "floating attention"
More and more is being written about the science of WHY we fidget. From articles in Fast Company magazine, the Huffington Post, and Sunni Brown‘s TED talk on doodling, we better understand the prevalence and utility of fidgeting and doodling, especially for folks with ADD and ADHD. But I&... Read More
The Pen is Mightier than the Keyboard – the power of longhand notes
Pam A, Mueller and Daniel M. Oppenheimer (from Princeton University and University of California, respectively), studied the impact of taking notes longhand versus on a computer. Writing Notes Is Better! Here’s what they found and published in the Psychological Science journal: “Taking n... Read More
Survey says . . . attendees prefer toys!
Several years ago, Garry Platt, a Learning & Development Specialist at EEF Ltd., posed the question. He presented two training tables–one with a smattering of fidget toys; and one without. He asked, simply, “A or B?” then posted his results on LinkedIN – A or B?. The ... Read More
Motivation is motivation . . . no matter what your age
Engagement is such a hot topic these days that I’ve been reading a great deal on what motivates us at work. When I read Kim Marshall‘s succinct synthesis of Kathleen Cushman’s article “Eight Conditions of Motivated Learning,” I was struck by similarity to the current t... Read More
Ron Gutman and the Hidden Power of Smiling
Over 25 years ago, I joined the circus as a clown and did my best to make people smile and laugh. About 5 years ago, my dad and then business partner wrote an article about the benefits of smiling. In 2013, I launched Office Oxygen, so that people could smile more at work! So, when… Read More
Learning and the Brain – Tips
A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a workshop on Learning and the Brain. It’s fascinating to learn from the brain scientists who study both the brain and its evolution over millions of years, to understand how we can make teaching and learning more effective. Following ... Read More
The Value and ROI in Employee Recognition
I came across this joint report by the Human Capital Institute, FORUM for People Performance Management and Measurement, and IRF Incentive Research Foundation, which examines the correlation between employee recognition and improved job performance. Among the facts highlighted, this one stood out to... Read More
PRODUCTS YOU’LL LOVE!
Who's First?® v3 Wireless Game Buzzer System
Engage fidgety fingers with a Desktop Fiddle Set
Build team spirit and communication with Team Writer
Learn more about who's who with the Favorites Thumball
The Neuroscience of Learning
Through brain science research, we've learned more about the parts of the brain and how they work together to help us understand and retain new information. We understand, for instance, that:- Greater engagement leads to deeper learning. And, the more areas of the brain that are in use, the more memorable the learning episode.
- Focus decreases during longer learning segments.
- Visual images, mnemonics, and metaphors help our brains organize information.
- Endorphins create feelings of euphoria and activate our frontal lobes, the part of the brain responsible for learning.
- Cortisol, the stress hormone, inhibits memory and attention.