Comments on: 3 ways to use neurotransmitters to enhance learning

By: David

David — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:53:36 +0000

ha ha I love it wwwwwd is perfect, if we can capture the wonderment of children, so we judgemental adults can experience it, then surely we have suceeded.

By: Steve Cherches

Steve Cherches — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:22:14 +0000

Cool. With that in mind, I think I’ll use scented markers in my programs from now on Maybe “scratch & sniff” workbooks should be used as well. We might have discovered the Willy Wonka teaching method…!

And I think I might have a new blog post…! WWWWD (What Would Willy Wonka Do?)

By: David

David — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:54:46 +0000

Thanks Steve. Scent is the most primitive sensory channel humans possess. When smelling occurs the information is sent not only for sensory processing and interpretation by higher functions, but also to the limbic system, which like the other items discussed is involved with emotions and reward. A Professor Engen recons that we ‘learn’ strong assoctations between smells and the circumstances in which we first experience them, creating ‘index keys’ to experiences. If he’s right then by uncovering a learners index key smells and tying them to specific learning material, times or approaches, you may be able to trigger enhanced recall and frame learning experiences with a specific emotion associated with a ‘key’ Interesting point thank you!

By: Steve Cherches

Steve Cherches — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:42:53 +0000

Excellent post…! I use these techniques but had not fully realized what might be going on from a Neurological standpoint. Great stuff…!

I’m curious about toys as well (I use them constantly). What if they have a scent? What might be going on in our brains when we get a whiff of Play Doh…?

By: David

David — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:24:13 +0000

Spot on Maureen, the use of simple games as rewards for assessment activities has been used extensively in eLearning. Now its easier than ever, so many of the ‘old school’ games are freely available as code engines that can be modified and intergeated into eLearning.

It has typically been used in 2 ways. Passing score gives x minutes of playtime and passing a quiz gives you access to the next level.

By: Maureen Barlow

Maureen Barlow — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:05:00 +0000

I have a thought on how this could apply to eLearning: Have periodic quizzes throughout the eLearning module, and if the learner passes the quiz (or gets the question right if it’s a simple one-question brain-teaser quiz), he/she goes on to play a fun little game that doesn’t take too much time.

By: David

David — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:02:22 +0000

Hi David,
Can you investigate this association within elearning?
Whilst I can think of ways to give away helpful electronic presents etc. can you explore it a bit deeper?

By: David

David — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:26:58 +0000

Toys are a great idea, if they can be used in an activity and given as a reward, I suspect that the reward centres in their brains would again light up, it also possibly place them in a more playful, receptive state

By: Lisa Braithwaite

Lisa Braithwaite — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:28:26 +0000

Thanks for this post. I’ve been giving my workshop participants candy since the beginning of time, mostly for fun and to keep them awake. Not specifically chocolate, but maybe I’ll add that to my goodie bag.

I don’t know how toys fit into this model, but I also use toys to stimulate learning in my workshops. Maybe if I let them keep the toys, they will have a better experience!