Can Zero-Calorie Pizza Improve Adult Learning?

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word “pizza?” Perhaps you thought “pepperoni,” “fattening,” or “cheesy.” Your mind started retrieving memories, forming connections and processing emotions that you already have to the concept of a pizza. Research tells us that retrieval, connecting and emotions are all tremendously helpful to understanding and retaining new information.
 
Unfortunately, you probably are not training your learners on the perfect pizza. (I think that might be on my bucket list!) However, you can use The Adjective Game, no matter what topic you are addressing, and whether you are working in a virtual or in-person environment. 
 
1. Choose a topic word for which you’d like to influence your learner’s perceptions. For example, I provide training on how to make virtual training or webinars more engaging. Usually people have a negative perception of the word “webinar,” and I want to change that perception. 

2. Use the Game slides you see below or create your own. Tell your audience that it is time to play The Adjective Game. Explain that you will show a noun, and they are to turn to their neighbor (or type in the chat box) and share the first adjective that pops to mind. 

---

3. Show your first game slide, similar to this one. Provide everyone about 15-30 seconds to talk or type in the chat box.  

4. Show two or three more nouns before revealing your topic word on the final slide.

5. Discuss some of the adjectives that have been shared. For example, my audience might say “boring webinar,” “required webinar,” or “deadly webinar.”

6. Finally, present a slide with your preferred adjective, e.g., “engaging webinar,” and discuss how your session will help them to see the topic differently. 
 
If your key topic word is a verb, simply change this to The Adverb Game.

Interested in improving the learner engagement in your virtual or in-person training? Contact me to discuss easy solutions!