| When I was a child, and a string of Christmas tree | | | | As well, blood moves from the brain's thinking area |
| lights went out, it was my job to replace each bulb | | | | (frontal lobes) to that part of the brain that is |
| one-by-one to discover which one was burned out. To | | | | responsible for survival reactions (reptilian brain). Under |
| enrich our effectiveness in work or study, we need to | | | | stress, we just don't think as well.We learn by taking in |
| first uncover what is obstructing our progress. We | | | | information through all our senses. The top three ways |
| need to ensure that we are sufficiently hydrated and | | | | we learn is seeing, hearing, and touching. Most |
| nourished. A person dehydrated by just five percent | | | | instructors do not think that learning through touch and |
| has a diminished cognitive ability of thirty percent. The | | | | movement is useful beyond the lower grades. |
| right types of food will supply the brain with its fuel - | | | | Generally speaking, school systems cater to visual and |
| glucose. As well, our immediate surroundings must be | | | | auditory learners. Those whose principal learning mode |
| factored in. Things like temperature, illumination, | | | | is kinesthetic (touch, movement, experience) operate |
| cleanliness, acoustics, and support materials. A | | | | at a distinct disadvantage. This group makes up a |
| competitive atmosphere is built into the school format, | | | | large portion of high-school dropouts.The concept of |
| and this discourages some who are less visual or | | | | different learning styles goes far beyond just visual, |
| auditory than others.Ninety-five percent of our | | | | auditory, and kinesthetic. I am sure you know that most |
| behaviors are automatic. They are driven by the | | | | people have a dominant hand and a dominant brain |
| subconscious mind, which faithfully carries out clear | | | | hemisphere. People also have a dominant foot, |
| directives. Like computer programs, these patterns or | | | | dominant eye, and dominant ear. The configuration of |
| habits are often established in early childhood, and | | | | how any one person is wired may show one of a |
| operate flawlessly until they are changed. This can | | | | possible 32 unique learning styles.Occasionally, trainers |
| explain self-sabotage, difficulties with motivation, | | | | instruct according to how they themselves learn. They |
| discipline, and attitudes.Whether you are a student, or | | | | blatantly disregard the fact that many of their learners |
| already in the workforce, you have a need to take in | | | | do not share the same approach. This non-inclusive |
| information in the most efficient manner possible. For | | | | teaching can be remedied by including a number of |
| the next few moments, suspend your belief in | | | | simple measures. The use of flip charts in lieu of |
| everything you know about how to learn. Keep an | | | | presentation slides is more kinesthetic. It encourages |
| open mind to new concepts.Some people still believe | | | | learners to pace themselves with the lesson as it |
| that incoming data (information) reaches the conscious | | | | progresses, rather than "reading ahead" and not |
| mind first, and then somehow gets processed so that | | | | listening to the instructor. Flip chart pages can be |
| some of it finally reaches long-term memory. Actually, | | | | placed around the room to be used as review points. |
| the opposite is true. Initially, all data hits the | | | | These reviews are done at the beginning of the next |
| subconscious for processing. The brain's priority is | | | | class, in groups of three walking around the room |
| survival. If the new information isn't threatening, then it is | | | | (kinesthetic activity). The small group format increases |
| compared to existing data. If it's not needed, it is | | | | the chance that each student will be discussing the |
| deleted. The remaining data is sorted and filtered. | | | | points with classmates whose learning styles are |
| Some is handed off to the conscious mind for | | | | different. This enables new perceptions to |
| processing, and some is consigned to long-term | | | | emerge.International speaker, Dr. Brian E. Walsh, is the |
| memory. This all happens in a flash. The subconscious | | | | bestselling author of Unleashing Your Brilliance. For |
| mind operates at 800 times the speed of the | | | | much of his 30-year corporate career he was |
| conscious mind.Why can't people remember things | | | | involved in human resources, specifically training.While |
| when they are nervous? I am sure that you've heard | | | | living in the arctic, Brian studied anthropology and |
| of the body's reaction to threat. It's called fight-or-flight. | | | | Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), which prepared him |
| It is typified by rapid breathing, and a diversion of | | | | for working with other cultures. |
| oxygenated blood from the visceral area to muscles. | | | | |