Unfortunately, we have a lot of historical baggage to contend with, making real learning much harder than it needs to be. We have generations of practitioners doing the only thing they know how to do (that which was modeled by former instructors), despite so much research and evidence suggesting a major pivot is in order. But we’re getting there.
How To Build A Better Lecture / Presentation vs A Bizarro One…
You can create as many Bizarro lectures as you’d like, but the results will always be the same. Students won’t learn, they’ll be bored, and you will ultimately hate teaching. Yes, you should put as much effort as possible into every learning session to create active learning experiences.
Welcome to Jeff Presents…
“As a teacher, if I don’t know the answer, I’ll tell you I do. Then I will inform you that it’s much more important for you to find the answer yourself so as to learn it. Finally, once you find the answer, I’ll have you email me so I can tell you if it’s right…” Dr. Jeff Borden delivers keynote addresses and workshops in an unconventional manner. He actually uses what we know to be effective practices when speaking, teaching, facilitating, or consulting. What does that mean? We know that lecture is likely the single-worst form of communication available if the desired outcome is to remember and also an impetus for change. We know from brain research that PowerPoint stinks. We know from hundreds of years of learning experiments that listeners who “do” are far more impacted than listeners who solely listen. Jeff not only speaks about this very research, but actually models it in his presentations, ensuring audiences will laugh, possibly cry, but engage with ideas meaningfully and transformationally throughout.