learning through variety

The latest cognitive studies, as reported in the NY Times, suggest that by altering your physical environment, changing what you're studying rather than slogging away on one subject, and regularly testing, all actually help people learn better.
Trying to recall and forgetting means you need to relearn before you continue.

So the old adage – repetition repetition! – holds its own with the latest from neurological lab data.

Teachers always said, go back over new content within a day and then again within a week to really let it sink in.

The changed environment resulting in better learning and remembering findings are fascinating. Maybe this is why you remember a book you read on holidays, more than the one you read in your bed. And why the classes you had outside, or in a different room are the one's that stick in your head.

So we do need to take breaks, and mix it up.

Variety is the spice of life and the spice of learning too.

what's ahead

When you hire a film or start watching a clip on You Tube, do you always check how long it will run for before deciding to go ahead? Yep me too.

To get all your training participants to 'be' in your session and not just sit there hoping they can leave soon, you need to engage them yes, but you also need their agreement -- telling them how long it runs for and what's ahead is one of the implicit ways you're asking them in.
So dont forget to let people know how long your session will go for and if there will be any breaks.
It's also worthwhile giving them the space to leave if they want to, though the consequences of that need to be apparent to them before they decide, ie if they dont take up this opportunity to learn what will happen? what won't happen?