Recent research on effective learning at the Neuro Leadership Institute ( NLI) shows that learning is not just about making knowledge stick, but also about the ability to take in new perspectives.
The NLI has developed a model (AGES) for effective learning that explains how we need to package knowledge in order for our brains to best receive and retain knowledge over time. AGES stands for; Attention, Generation, Emotion and Spacing. Involve Communication has over 20 years of experience in developing digital learning and in this article we tie NLI's research together with our own experience of developing successful learning platforms for businesses and organisations.
Focus and the ability to maintain attention is a critical factor for learning. Learning takes place when we activate the part of the brain called the hippocampus, learning takes place best when we focus on one subject at a time, without being distracted by other things around us. So the first thing to consider when creating a digital platform is that the design and content should help people maintain attention and engagement with the topic we want the recipient to focus on.
The second part is about how our brains need to engage with the content, connecting the new information to its own context in order for the information to stick. Research shows that we cannot absorb information passively but need to be active for knowledge to be transported from short-term to long-term memory. This can be done by activating multiple senses. Not just listening or reading, but mixing several senses and linking knowledge to one's personal role or job context.
Our emotions play several roles in learning. Research shows that the more emotionally affected we are at the time of learning, the more we remember the content. In addition, our emotions help us maintain focus and attention. Emotions such as joy, excitement or connectedness have been shown to have a positive impact on learning. That's why it's important to create content that evokes emotions and moves people. There are many ways to do this, gamification is one way. The most important thing is to make conscious decisions about what emotions you want the content to evoke.
Spacing is about creating better memories if we receive information at intervals and pause between sessions of knowledge retrieval. The research doesn't say how much time is optimal, but a small break is better than no break. That's why microlearning has become so effective. To facilitate learning, our platforms are based on an exploratory approach with short videos and interactions that both inspire breaks but also encourage people to come back to the platform for new learning experiences.
In summary, the AGES model describes a learning approach that helps people to focus on the content, engage and connect the content to their own context, experience positive emotions around the content and pause between learning situations. We help organisations maximise their employees' learning. Sustainable learning overtime.
Want to know more about our work in learning and how we can help you? Contact Karin and she will tell you more!
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