Learning Science Tips for Professional Speakers
I saw Aaron’s list and thought to create one from my field of learning science… As a professional speaker, leveraging principles from learning science can enhance your ability to educate, engage, and inspire your audience. Here are ten learning science tips that can help you maximize the impact of your presentations: # 1. Utilize the Spacing Effect - Tip: Reinforce key concepts by spacing out the repetition of important ideas throughout your presentation. Use various perspectives to avoid boredom. - Why: The spacing effect suggests that information is more effectively retained when it is repeated at intervals over time, rather than in a single instance. # 2. Incorporate Retrieval Practice - Tip: Ask your audience to recall information at various points during your talk, such as through questions or quick summaries. - Why: Retrieval practice strengthens memory by requiring the brain to actively recall information, which enhances long-term retention. # 3. Apply Dual Coding - Tip: Combine verbal explanations with complementary visual aids, such as diagrams, infographics, or videos. But avoid seductive details that distract for a quick joke or irreverent aside. - Why: Dual coding theory posits that people learn better when information is presented in both visual and verbal forms, as it engages different cognitive pathways. # 4. Use the Cognitive Load Theory - Tip: Simplify complex information by breaking it into smaller, digestible chunks and avoid overwhelming your audience with too much information at once. Being smart is not sounding smart but being understood is very smart, utilize skillful means; meet the audience where they are. - Why: Cognitive load theory emphasizes that the brain has a limited capacity for processing information, so managing this load is crucial for effective learning. # 5. Engage Multiple Senses - Tip: Incorporate multimedia elements, interactive demonstrations, or even sensory experiences (like touch or smell) when relevant. - Why: Engaging multiple senses can enhance learning by creating more connections in the brain, making the information more memorable.