Engaged Education — At a Safe Social Distance, by Molly Marsh

ENGAGED EDUCATION – AT A SAFE SOCIAL DISTANCE

Adapting to the “new abnormal” with simple techniques based on adult learning theory By Molly Marsh

Perhaps the best way to anticipate what is next for the knowledge to advance learning — and they can be used at meetings industry as we emerge from COVID-19 a distance. They also support participants in relating to one isolation is what I heard recently described as the new another at a human level, triggering those parts of our brains abnormal. From new cleaning and sanitation protocols for that make us feel safe, connected and open to new ideas. event spaces to social distancing recommendations, from food service to the way we greet one another, it seems like LEARNING IS SUPPOSED TO BE HARD almost everything about the meeting environment is going to It would be easy to fall back into the habit of relying on have to change. lecture presentations in the post-pandemic environment.

Although the environment in which we After all, one speaker, one microphone are gathering is changing, the way our brains and spaced audience seating is the path process new information remains the same. of least resistance, right? However, since Using what we know about the adult brain to sitting and listening to a lecture is easy, guide development of education sessions for it means participants probably aren’t meetings is critical to building dynamic and getting much out of it. In Make It Stick: engaging conferences in the new abnormal. The Science of Successful Learning, Peter C. Brown and his co-authors describe CONNECTION IS KEY how the brain learns new information: It may seem counterintuitive to go back Encoding (taking in information), to 1908 to address a challenge in the 2020 Consolidation (making sense of the meetings industry, but it’s worth it. Malcolm information) and Retrieval (calling on Knowles was a pioneer of adult learning in information when needed). the early 20th century, and one of his core Hearing a lecture is only encoding; principles is that for adults to learn new information, they must be able to connect to their own experiences and context. Polling technology is a great tool to ensure content It would be easy to fall back into the habit of relying on some information is kept in short-term memory, but most is simply lost. Written reflection is a technique for consolidation that checks all the boxes for us right being delivered is relevant to the audience, lecture presentations now — low cost, low tech and low touch. and it can be used in a hybrid environment in the post-pandemic Speakers inviting participants to take to engage both in-person and virtual participants. Incorporating polls that assess the knowledge participants bring with them, and how they are building on it throughout the session, helps attendees make the environment. … However, since sitting and listening to a lecture is easy, it out a piece of paper and reflect on a key question or takeaways from the presentation provides the space needed for the brain to begin making sense of the information received. Quizzes or games connections between new information and means participants can play a role here too in facilitating their learned experience. probably aren’t retrieval. By asking participants to test Social connection and peer-to-peer learning is another one of Knowles’ principles getting much out of it. their knowledge of what was presented, speakers are helping participants practice of adult learning — something that is recall. The more a learner goes through likely to be increasingly difficult with social distancing in these cycles in learning new information, the more likely it is place. Gaming and play were already emerging as trends to stick and have a lasting impact. in experiential learning, and they are even more critical to The tactics are not new — adapting to the new abnormal effective education now. Trivia competitions and choosedoesn’t need to be about investing in all-new technology your-own-ending scenarios are great ways to use collective Continued on inside back cover