WEEK #1 Content and Key Concepts Summary
SMART Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives serve two main purposes.
- They ensure that the facilitator and learners have a clear expectation of what to expect from the learning.
- They also serve as navigation point when creating the training curriculum.
Learning Objectives for week #1
Upon completion of this week's content you should be able to:
Upon completion of this week's content you should be able to:
- Explain the why Massed Practice and rereading are the least productive learning approaches
- Explain why retrieval practices are more effective methods of learning
- Demonstrate different ways to use retreival practices to New Hires in retaining information trained in a Care Center Environment
Week #1 Content Summaries
How People Learn, Dr. Roddy Roediger
The YouTube video below is an introduction to the science of learning and Make It Stick, a book about the science of learning. It is a recording by Dr. Roddy Roediger, one of the authors of Make It Stick. He discuss the common mistakes made by traditional learning techniques and why they are not effective. Interestingly, he also discusses how, although empirical data has proven the ineffectiveness of rereading and massed practices, it is still the most common learning technique used by both learners and instructors. (Roediger, 2014) |
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Chapter 1 - Learning is Misunderstood
The book began with a wonderful story to introduce the science of learning. This chapter focused on the fallacies associated with current learning practices. This chapter establishes the claims made by the book and its authors. The first is that we are poor judges of when we are learning. The second is that rereading and massed practice are not effective learning techniques. The third claim is that retrieval practices are more effective ways to learn new information. (Brown, Roediger, & McDaniel, 2014). This chapter reviewed several studies to support the claims made and offered options for improving learning strategies. This chapter set the stage for what is sure to be a very enlightening read.
The book began with a wonderful story to introduce the science of learning. This chapter focused on the fallacies associated with current learning practices. This chapter establishes the claims made by the book and its authors. The first is that we are poor judges of when we are learning. The second is that rereading and massed practice are not effective learning techniques. The third claim is that retrieval practices are more effective ways to learn new information. (Brown, Roediger, & McDaniel, 2014). This chapter reviewed several studies to support the claims made and offered options for improving learning strategies. This chapter set the stage for what is sure to be a very enlightening read.
Chapter 2 - To Learn, Retrieve
Chapter 2 began right where chapter 1 left off with a look at the retrieval process of learning. It was interesting that the authors decided to blend both the problems with “testing” and the importance of “quizzing.” Specifically, the look at self-assessment was very interesting and a bit eye opening. I appreciated how the authors provided several different points of view as it related to the need for knowledge in order to reach higher order learning. I am excited to see what the remainder of the book has in store for me. (Brown et al., 2014)
Chapter 2 began right where chapter 1 left off with a look at the retrieval process of learning. It was interesting that the authors decided to blend both the problems with “testing” and the importance of “quizzing.” Specifically, the look at self-assessment was very interesting and a bit eye opening. I appreciated how the authors provided several different points of view as it related to the need for knowledge in order to reach higher order learning. I am excited to see what the remainder of the book has in store for me. (Brown et al., 2014)
Connections to a Care Center Learning & Development Team
In the Care Center environment we are faced with many of the same challenges of other fields which require adult learners to amass a large body of knowledge in a very short period of time. While creating Knowledge Management Systems with robust databases of information for the front-line team to reference is important; it cannot replace an associate who simply knows the processes and procedures. During a typical New Hire experience there is a wide variety of processes that are taught and in order to learn the processes the learners need to also learn a base of knowledge in addition to how to navigate the many different system used. Using techniques like retrieval will aid in the retention of the needed base of knowledge. This retention, will allow our new hires to more quickly learn the needed processes and procedure.
Suggestions for Implementation
The concepts covered in this week's class are amazing foundations and are key when developing a learning events. When we look at how we train our newest associates I feel that we need to look at the base of knowledge required to understand the job as a separate part of the application of that knowledge. Far to often we are limited by operational needs of the business and are forced to combine these types of information and the result is a not so amazing experience for our associates and our customers. I suggest looking at the onboarding process and chunking out the information to first teach the base body of knowledge first and the focus on the application of the concepts. This will allow the benefits of retrieval to begin working in a way that allows our associates to not only understand the how, but the why behind it.
Formative Assessment—Quizlet Flashcards
Please review the following flashcards to practice Retrieval for yourself.
References
Brown, P.C., Roediger, H.L., & McDaniel, M.A. (2014). Make it stick: The science of successful learning.
Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Roediger, H.L. (2014, June 12). How People Learn.
Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tz8gVPHhFE
Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Roediger, H.L. (2014, June 12). How People Learn.
Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tz8gVPHhFE