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Tips for Trainers offers you a free training tip, technique, idea, suggestion, research or
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Trainers Tip (Ideas)

Building A Brain Compatible Learning Environment

Neuroscience research outlines what an ‘ideal’ learning environment should look like
and consist of to maximise learning potential. However, most of us live within the
confines of the corporate/public sector world. Some of the ideas suggested are just not
feasible (ionisation, aromas, plants). That doesn’t mean we cannot make some simple
changes that might influence how our learners respond and how learners interact
during their workshop.

Rather than overwhelm you with suggestions, I’ve split this tip into 2 parts (part I and
part II). I’ll send part II in a fortnights time after you have had chance to try out a few of
the following suggestions and are ready to try out more.

Dr Emanuel Donchin of the University of Illinois says that we assimilate most

information (98%) non-consciously. This means that our brain is constantly processing
data, even when we don’t know or feel it is. Therefore, even the training environment,
factors such as lighting, temperature, peripherals, sound, colour etc all have powerful
impact upon the brain.

Posters around the training room (and outside the training room)

As mentioned earlier, research suggests that 98% of what we learn is learnt

subconsciously. If this is the case, let’s exploit that to the full and use peripherals such
as posters as one way. You don’t have to be an artist to do this (believe me, I’m no
artist). You don’t even have to draw as such. Simply put a coloured border around
each flip chart poster to frame the information.

Colourful, hand written/drawn, content related posters (flip charts) around the room can
be used to:
• Add colour to a dull room.
• Introduce learners to upcoming content.
• Give a focus when learners mind (and eyes) start to wander.
• Act as a review to content already uncovered.
• Make the environment feel ‘comfortable’ and safe.

5 types of poster to include in your training room

• Learners work (the most important of the 5)
Ensure you leave sufficient room to post up learners work ie action lists, step
procedures etc. After all, it’s their discoveries that are vital and these should be
acknowledged.
• Content posters
Posters that pre-expose learners to upcoming content eg flow diagrams of a process,
key stages of a model or process, an agenda of content etc.
• Motivational Quotes
eg for sales ‘When one door closes, another opens: but we often look so long and so
regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us’ –
Alexander Graham Bell. There are hundreds of free sites on the web where you can
find quotes – simply search quotes for your topic area.
• Symbolic
eg the picture of a kite with ‘Imagination is the highest kite one can fly’ – Lauren Bacall.
• Preaching
ie what you’d like to say to learners but wouldn’t say. This can be added to a poster
where it’s OK to say these things.
Poster Activities could include
• Partially filled in content sheets to whet learners appetite and add curiosity eg for
a MS Project workshop add a flip chart ‘Simple Steps to Creating a Working Project
Plan’. After learners uncover the steps and maybe after the afternoon break, ask them
create this step-by-step guide as if they were writing it for someone in the office that
doesn’t know Project. This then acts as a great review and a team generated one at
that (learners don’t argue with their own data). Give time for them to add this to their
own workbooks for future reference. If you have enough learners, divide them into
teams of 4, provide each team with a flip chart sheet, conduct the activity as above but
add the step of teams comparing their posters and adding additional steps/ideas to their
poster that other teams captured.
• Add a poster to the wall that has a main topic and say 4 or 5 branches ie main
topic in the middle with branches coming from it and labelled. This acts as great
pre-exposure to the topic, but it can be used after a break or when you want to add a
state changer by asking learners to complete the branches by adding as much as they
now know about each branch.
• At the end of the morning, first day or start of day 2, ask learners to create a
colourful poster that encapsulates the learning to date. Suggest that the maximum
amount of text for the poster is 25%. This will encourage more creativity and colour.

You have walls – use them.

Seating

Ask yourself ‘what do I want learners to do during the day?’ I would suggest that the
answers might include:

To discuss new ideas and talk through how they might implement them.
To work together as a team(s).
For all learners to be involved.
To feel comfortable participating in activities with all fear of being wrong
eliminated.
To focus attention away from the facilitator and onto the learners themselves.

Then ask yourself; “Does the standard rows and horseshoe room layout make this
possible?” Answer, ‘not really’. These layouts make it difficult for learners to share
ideas, it is nearly impossible for all learners to be involved as the group tends to be
dominated by 2 or 3 more extravert learners and focus is immediately directed forward
towards the facilitator (who will then assume the role of ‘Sage on the Stage’ rather than
‘Guide on the Side’).
Consider changing this format to cabaret style seating ie round tables (or rectangular in
blocks). I would suggest round tables large enough to comfortably seat 5-6 learners
and still have enough room for workbooks, water, pens, manipulative ‘toys’ etc. We find
that using this format very quickly:

Creates a team spirit.

Generates discussion groups.
Allows us to have learners working in 2’s within a team and then for the sub-sets
of the team to feed into the whole team.
Ensures that everyone is involved all of the time.
Is comfortable for all learners to be involved as they are not in front of the entire
group.
Feeding back to the group can be done as a team rather than an individual.
Any ‘difficult’ learners are dealt with by the team rather than you having to
intervene.

Prepare the tables

Now you have established the seating arrangements it’s time to prepare the tables.
Ideally these will have tablecloths – but if this is not available to you, make the most of
what you have.

Put brightly coloured ‘party cups’ onto the table (one per learner) and fill them
with coloured felt-tip pens, pencils etc.
Create A3 paper placemats with content related images or space to write key
ideas from the upcoming topics and encourage learners to fill these in during their
workshop. There can also be an area for action points they will complete when they
return to the workplace.
Ensure there are water bottles on each table and glasses for drinking.
Put coloured post-it™, sticky dots, highlighter pens, scissors into the centre of the
table.
Put manipulative such as pipe-cleaners etc onto the table for those that like to
‘fiddle’ with things as they think.

Light

‘Light affects mood and alertness by shutting down the production of melatonin, the
sleep inducer. Because alertness is important when learning, the training room should
be well lit.’ – Pierce J Howard (The Owner’s manual for the Brain).

Bright, natural light is best. If this is not possible, make sure your training room is well
lit.

If you don’t have natural light, consider facilitating some of the workshop in areas with
natural light eg the canteen, outside, in other break out areas etc.

Call to Action

The training environment plays a big part in how learners feel, are stimulated and how
they participate during their time with you. As trainers, our focus tends to be upon
content, maybe we should put equal focus upon the learning environment. Even if you
cannot do all of the above, do at least one new thing each time and notice the
difference it makes to your learners (plus you’ll enjoy the change yourself).

Having read this far, I'

m guessing that you match one of the following:
You try to enrich the learning environment but sometimes struggle due to the
limitation of the organisation or the perceived reaction of your learners; in which
case, I hope these simple ideas shows you how easy it can be when you have
the right techniques. But maybe you still have some questions about how best to
build on this with other tools and techniques to add to your repertoire.
You’ve tried ideas like these but they didn' t work the way you were hoping for.
It'
s true that without knowing the underlying principles of why you should utilise
ideas like these, things can go wrong. Typically this is because you weren' t
comfortable with the ideas, or you used inappropriate ideas for your
environment. Fortunately, all of these outcomes can be corrected.
You use ideas similar to this but you are always on the look-out for new ways of
developing your facilitation and training skills to ensure your workshops run
smoothly with learners engaged and learning throughout.

Whichever best describes you, why not join us in Central London on 14-16 October
2009 for the next 'Tips for Trainers Conference’ - guaranteed to give you more ideas
and techniques than you could use in a year!
http://www.eureka-tp.com/conference.aspx

“Learning at its best eg fun, stimulating and tools and techniques I want to use!”

David Barrett - DJPB Consulting – March 2008 Conference

Some of the tools and techniques you can expect to leave with include areas such as:

• Creating openings that ignite a room.

• Creating memorable closes.

• Presenting with Impact.

• Turn difficult learners into raving fans.

• Reviewing without your learners even knowing you'

re reviewing.

• Turning course objectives into evidence based competencies.

• Bringing dry material alive.

“By far the most inspiring and practical environment for Trainers that I have experience
in my 10 year career. Well done to all who were involved and attended especially
David and Christophe.”
Jasmine Perera-Davis - HBOS - Dealer Finance - March 2008 Conference

Tips for Trainers Conference 2009

This conference is like no other conference you’ve taken part in. This is totally centred
around your needs ensuring you leave with practical, easy to implement ideas and
techniques that almost guarantee transfer of learning.

“I Enjoyed:
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- The participation of the experts as attendees in other workshops

- The absence of PowerPoint

- The practical tips that were generated

A fantastic way to refresh and enhance training techniques and skills. In addition,
having the chance to speak to other trainers and L&D professionals in such a relaxed
and constructive manner makes the conference a must in my calendar! Time and
money well spent!”

Gary Acheson - MWB Business Exchange plc – March 2008 Conference

Tips For Trainers Conference

See you in October – David

“Great content! The organisation will benefit from this creative and relevant training
which fully engages learners to help bridge the performance gap. Absolutely brilliant.”

Desmond Mills – Learning and Development Consultant - London Borough of

Newham – October 2008 workshop

Ps why not reserve your place now as we limit this to the first 100 registrations
on a first come first served basis Tips For Trainers Conference

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