SIMPLIFYING A SUBJECT MATTER

Making learning a fun-filled and rewarding experience

TRAINING METHODS

  1. How to simplify a subject matter
  2. How to reduce cognitive load
  3. How to make learning a fun-filled and rewarding experience

HOW TO SIMPLIFY A SUBJECT MATTER

Convert a complex subject into a series of simple subjects:

"If there's one thing I've learned as a Developer, it's this: complexity happens; simplicity, you have to consistently strive for. Nowhere is this truer than in education. Our role as teachers, by definition, is to simplify subjects so that they can be easily understood. A good teacher dispels trepidation with anecdote, abstraction with analogy, superstition and magic with knowledge. Simplicity, however, is not easily attained. In order to simplify, you must first gain an encompassing understanding of the complex. It is a rare person who can simultaneously exist in both the simple and complex planes of a problem domain and communicate effectively at both levels. It is, however, these rare people who make the best teachers." – Aral Galkan, 2 Jan 2006 Famagusta, Cyprus

HOW TO SIMPLIFY A SUBJECT MATTER

 

EXAMPLE: A car is a complex mechanism. However, if you break it down into its COMPONENT PARTS, it becomes easier to understand

Use analogies that relate to real world objects

“The MEDIOCRE teacher TELLS. The GOOD teacher EXPLAINS.
The SUPERIOR teacher DEMONSTRATES.
The GREAT teacher INSPIRES.” — William Arthur Ward

  1. Don’t Repeat Yourself (DRY) unless necessary
  2. Explain the “whys” not just the “how to’s” on a subject matter
  3. Anticipate student questions in advance of them asking them

Develop training for all learning styles:

  1. Visual (most learners)
  2. Kinesthetic (hand-on learners)
  3. Auditory (hearing learners)

HOW TO REDUCE COGNITIVE LOAD

Cognitive load — your mind can only process a certain amount of information at a given time and when it reaches its capacity, it goes into overload. Below are ways to reduce this load.

Use plain language:

  1. simplify words and sentences
  2. define complex terms
  3. afford acronyms unless you have a targeted audience
  4. use lists (bullet/number) and tables to convey related data or ideas

Provide aids to learning:

  1. Provide handouts
  2. Number files or steps when necessary
  3. Add images or videos when necessary

Distill new concepts to make is easier to understand:

  1. Break concepts into logical chunks
  2. Highlight key words and concepts
  3. Group related concepts together

HOW TO MAKE LEARNING FUN-FILLED AND ENGAGING

If appropriate, add humor

Be creative

Ask questions while teaching

Engage the audience

TRAINING / TEACHING QUOTES