Page 78 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 02 11/20/02 11:37 AM Page 67
PUTTING YOUR BRAIN TO WORK: ACTIVITY Lighting the Creativity Lamp 67
How can optical illusions add creativity to your training sessions?

To which learner modality do you think optical illusions would most appeal? Why?

How can you ensure that optical illusions will appeal and add value for all three learning modalities?

Stories

Sharing personal experiences and other types of stories based on events that will inter-
est participants and relate to a session topic is an excellent, proven method for gaining
attention and helping learners understand relationships between what is being offered
and the real world. When designing your programs, use tales about successful people
and events from within your organization, industry, or other sources. Explain how
concepts being presented are used successfully in the workplace by others. Doing so
will likely generate more interest and buy-in from your participants. For example, Walt
Disney World employees in Orlando, Florida, have gained international recognition for
the excellent manner in which they relate actual Disney experiences to new employees
in their orientation program, Traditions.
By relating personal experiences and sharing information based on actual events
or situations, you can also help your learners to better grasp key points and ultimately
translate them into personal action.

BRIGHT I DEA
Finding Stories
ake some time in the next couple of weeks to gather organizational and
Tpersonal stories that can be used in the classroom. Elicit examples of what
works and does not work from others in your organization. Start a file or log of
the stories you collect along with the name and contact information of the
contributor, in case you later need to reference them or ask additional clarifying
questions. Once you have a good number of tales, organize them by their
relationship to various program topics that you conduct, then start building
them into program design.