“We are not thinking beings that occasionally feel. We are feeling beings that occasionally think.” – Antonio Damasio
Holy moly, January's gone. Poof. I blinked and almost missed it. Good to have the kids back in school and things getting back to normal... or whatever passes for it. I'm not wishing time away, but... is it too early to start thinking about sunshine, warm weather, and more outside time? Probably is, if you live anywhere near me.
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👆 Last Week’s Most Clicked
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🎶 What I’m Listening To
DOUBLECAMP is a duo that blends pop, hip-hop, and indie/alt into some really good music.
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Unlock Learner Brains: The Science of Creating Engaging Training
The Rundown: Effective training hinges on understanding human cognitive architecture, particularly how attention and first impressions influence learning. Design plays a pivotal role in capturing and maintaining learner engagement.
The Context:
First Impressions: Learners form judgments in as little as 50 milliseconds, with 94% of these impressions based on design quality. A positive initial perception can create a "halo effect," enhancing engagement with subsequent content.
Thinking Systems: According to Daniel Kahneman, humans operate using two systems:
System 1 (Intuitive): Automatic, quick, and energy-efficient.
System 2 (Deliberative): Effortful, analytical, and energy-intensive.
Cognitive Biases: Designing training that aligns with natural cognitive biases—such as personal relevance, contrast, tangibility, memorability, visual appeal, and emotional resonance—can enhance learning effectiveness.
Why it Matters: By aligning training design with the brain's natural processing patterns, educators can create more engaging and effective learning experiences. Understanding and leveraging cognitive principles ensures that training not only captures attention but also facilitates deeper learning and retention.
The fall of click-next e-learning: What Operator means for training
The Rundown: Ben Betts looks at ChatGPT's Operator tool and demonstrates its ability to navigate and complete e-learning modules autonomously, raising questions about the future of traditional corporate training.
The Context:
Operator successfully completed various e-learning modules, including a simple "comic book" style course, a more complex Adapt framework module, and even a comprehensive assessment with diverse question types.
While Operator excelled in many tasks, it faced challenges with dynamic drag-and-drop interactions and audio recording tasks.
Why it Matters:The emergence of tools like Operator could render traditional "click-next" e-learning obsolete, prompting organizations to:
Reevaluate the effectiveness of their training programs.
Consider policies to prevent AI from completing mandatory training.
Explore more engaging and meaningful learning experiences.
Curated Consumption: A Saner Approach to Online Media
The Rundown: Scott Young suggests ditching algorithm-driven content feeds in favor of curated consumption via RSS readers, arguing that this leads to a more focused and less distracting online experience.
The Context:
RSS Readers: Tools like Feedly allow users to subscribe directly to preferred blogs, websites, and even social media accounts, offering control over the content you consume.
Content Discovery: Finding new material requires effort, but following aggregator blogs can simplify the process.
Why it Matters: Transitioning to curated consumption reduces exposure to algorithmically selected, attention-grabbing content, leading to a more focused and intentional online experience. While it demands a bit more effort, this approach offers a healthier alternative to the often overwhelming nature of modern content feeds.
Can simulation-based learning help your organization?
If you need a way to help your learners practice tasks or scenarios they can use on the job, simulation-based learning unlocks a world of possibilities!
Discover the benefits of simulation-based learning, examine real-world use cases, and what impact it can have on your organization.
Tired of stakeholders questioning your training impact? Join world-renowned analytics expert Dr. Alaina Szlachta for a 90-minute masterclass that turns complex data into compelling proof of value. You'll learn practical, step-by-step strategies that are already helping training leaders showcase undeniable results.
This hands-on session from aNewSpring cuts through the theory to deliver real solutions. Register for March 11 (9:00-10:30 AM ET) and transform how you show your program's success.
Sarah Mercier (Build Capable CEO) discusses her patented learning tech, the XCL tool for decentralized content, and how AI can revolutionize learning—with good data.
If you or your event needs a speaker or workshop that is highly interactive and super practical, we should talk.
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