Workshops

Extend learning beyond your presentation with these brain-friendly strategies

Visualize the worst professional development workshop you have ever attended. Chances are, you sat passively as your presenter talked aimlessly regarding a topic of little interest to you. The presentation may have been accompanied by an endless stream of PowerPoint slides from which the presenter read — as if you could not read them for yourself. Never once were you given the opportunity to interact with other participants. By 24 hours after the forgettable experience, if you could bring yourself to admit this, you were probably lucky to recall 10% of the content delivered. Now, reflect on the best staff development workshop of which you have been a part. You were probably in attendance because you chose to be. The presenter facilitated your learning while

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References

Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. New York: Basic Books.

Glasser, W. (1990). The quality school. New York: Harper & Row.

Jensen, E. & Dabney, M. (2000). Learning smarter: The new science of teaching. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Joyce, B. & Showers, B. (1995). Student achievement through staff development (2nd ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.

Sousa, D.A. (2006). How the brain learns (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Sparks, D. & Hirsh, S. (1997). A new vision for staff development. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Sternberg, R.J. & Grigorenko, E.L. (2000). Teaching for successful intelligence: To increase student learning and achievement. Arlington Heights, IL: Skylight.

Tate, M.L. (2004). “Sit & get” won’t grow dendrites: 20 professional learning strategies that engage the adult brain. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Marcia Tate

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Marcia Tate is CEO, Developing Minds, Inc.

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