Training from the BACK of the Room! (TBR)

Most webinars still function as virtual information-delivery systems: lots of slides, lots of lecture, maybe a polling feature, maybe a visible chat box, maybe a “word cloud” generator. To make learning the goal (and not just information-delivery), participants need to be engaged in a variety of ways throughout the webinar.    

This is an excellent video about how the human brain learns best. It applies to all ages of learners and all types of learning environments, especially in-person and virtual live-streaming classes.

Eight-hour training days may be the norm for in-person training, but it’s a poor format for live virtual training. The overwhelming temptation for trainers is to maintain the status quo when offering classes online. However, this flies in the face of science, academic practices, and decades of professional reports of successful virtual learning experiences.

When it comes to designing/delivering effective and successful online instruction, sometimes we just need a refresher to remind us of what we already know. Here, you’ll find a collection of links to a few of my past blog posts about virtual instruction and learning. I hope you’ll enjoy revisiting this useful information (be sure to download the free infographic!).

This blog post contains a free infographic with 7 instructional strategies that engage learners in any virtual (or, for that matter, in-person) class or training. Feel free to download and share this free infographic with others.

It’s the nature of the beast: There will ALWAYS be tech-glitches when learning virtually. With that said, here are 9 tips to make sure the learners in your virtual classes get the most from their remote learning experiences.

This very short video is an excellent animation and explanation of “neuroplasticity” – the ability we all possess to rewire our brain.

I’m still receiving emails with questions about the TBR-VE™ Class (Training from the BACK of the Room – Virtual Edition). The information and links in this blog post will help you figure out if the TBR-VE™ Class will fit your professional learning goals as a trainer, instructor, teacher, or coach.

(NOTE: This blog is reposted from an earlier contribution by TBR Certified Trainer Jean-Paul Bayley): When it comes to class size, the thinking is that smaller groups of learners are better than larger ones for an optimal virtual learning experience. True or not? Let’s look at the research.

Most webinars still function as virtual information-delivery systems: lots of slides, lots of lecture, maybe a polling feature, maybe a visible chat box, maybe a “word cloud” generator. To make learning the goal (and not just information-delivery), participants need to be engaged in a variety of ways throughout the webinar.    

(NOTE: This blog post was written by TBR Certified Trainer Teri Frith): When it comes to learning, we know that “movement trumps sitting.” Finding ways to build movement into activities in the virtual classroom is more challenging than in the in-person classroom. This means that we trainers need to be more deliberate in including learner movement as often as possible.

Every year, I repost two “Pocket Card Sets” for you to download, print, and cut into small cards (10 per set). You can pocket them or post them where they become tiny reminders of both health tips or learning tips. Here are the two sets for your health and learning journeys in 2022. Happy New Year! 🙂 Sharon

I repost this blog every year because it contains links to many of the free infographics on my website. As always, you’re welcome to download, print, and share the resources below with interested colleagues. Pay it forward and teach someone something!  

Awhile back, I wrote a post about “Body-Breaks,” short quick physical movements that learners do to stretch their bodies and get more oxygen to their brains. Body-Breaks have become hugely important in virtual/remote learning environments.

The human brain evolved over millions of years to learn “on-the-fly,” that is, while the physical environment was constantly changing. The brains of our ancestors adapted to change slowly, over time, and perfected certain learning behaviors. The current situation with the global pandemic has exponentially increased our need to do the same, only faster.

I’m always surfing the web for information about the human brain and how it learns. In this blog are two short videos: “The Learning Brain” and “How to Learn Faster.” Both videos are visually-interesting and great refreshers on how we, as humans, learn.

I’ve received many emails with questions about the TBR-VE™ Class (TBR – Virtual Edition). Some questions had to do with schedules and fees; others had to do with course content and how the virtual class differs from the 2-day in-person TBR Practitioner Class. Here are resources to help you sort it all out.

When it comes to designing/delivering effective and successful online instruction, sometimes we just need a refresher to remind us of what we already know. Here, you’ll find a collection of links to a few of my past blog posts about virtual instruction and learning. I hope you’ll enjoy revisiting this useful information (be sure to download the free infographic!).

It used to be thought that, once the human brain reached adulthood, learning slowed down. It was further thought that, as the brain aged, it became almost impervious to growing new neural pathways. Cognitive neuroscientists now know that both assumptions aren’t true. We can thank the brain’s “neuroplasticity” for this.

Those of us who have been teaching virtual classes know about important staging elements: quality lighting and sound, external camera, backgrounds that don’t distract, etc. However, we might think that these elements don’t matter when we’re the participants in a class – or do they?

(Note: This blog post is contributed by TBR Certified Trainer Kelly Pfeiffer): If you’re using Zoom to teach a virtual class, the reason you’re doing so is to ensure that you can see the participants and they can see you, right? When people are learning together, visual cues are extremely helpful, except when they’re not! It turns out that too

Eight-hour training days may be the norm for in-person training, but it’s a poor format for live virtual training. The overwhelming temptation for trainers is to maintain the status quo when offering classes online. However, this flies in the face of science, academic practices, and decades of professional reports of successful virtual learning experiences.