Teaching in an Information Jungle

Sometimes I marvel at/am overwhelmed by the number of ways a person can learn in the information age. Short, bite-sized video snippets have become the medium of choice for learners who use social media. Long-form articles, books, and periodicals still exist for those who prefer a deeper dive on a subject at one time.

Hands-on tutorials, instructed or self-paced online courses, virtual conferences and workshops now exist alongside the in-person versions of the same. And the onset and adoption of virtual reality, particularly 360-degree cinematic virtual reality, is creating a world of training opportunities that teachers may have only dreamed of in the past.

Instructors specializing in intricate subjects face a unique task: to compress wide-ranging topics into concise, impactful lessons without sacrificing depth or nuance.

The key to success is to break down complex information into understandable pieces. It's like turning a complicated story into one that's easy to follow, making tough topics easier to get into. Developing a knack for simplifying tough stuff helps students really get into the material and understand it deeply.

Teachers, coaches, and mentors often face the challenge of sharing a vast amount of information with their learners. This task can be daunting, both for the educator trying to convey the material and for the learners trying to absorb it.

Understanding Your Learners' Cognitive Map 

In the realm of education, understanding your learners' cognitive map—how they think, process information, and retain knowledge—is the cornerstone to constructing effective lessons. Cognitive psychology offers insights into these processes, shedding light on how memory works, how attention is captured, and how understanding is deepened.

Every learner has a unique cognitive map, influenced by their experiences, preferences, and capacities for learning. This diversity means that a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching is often ineffective. Some learners may thrive on visual information, others on auditory explanations, and still others on hands-on experiences. Tailoring your teaching methods to accommodate these different styles can significantly enhance the learning experience.

Breaking Down the Information Jungle

Navigating the jungle of information available to your learners and distilling it into digestible portions is an essential skill for any educator. One effective strategy is "chunking" — organizing information into smaller, more manageable segments that are easier for the brain to process. By grouping related concepts together, educators can create a clearer, more connected learning experience that facilitates easier recall and understanding.

Let’s look at a sample lesson plan that involves breaking down the steps of a hive inspection, a common but information-heavy task beekeepers must learn:

Storytelling is also a great way to bring complex ideas to life. Stories act as bridges, connecting new information to the learner's existing knowledge and experiences. This not only makes the content more relatable and engaging but also aids in comprehension and memory retention.

Let’s use our same beekeeping task to illustrate how storytelling can be instructive:

Engaging Your Learners Through Interactivity and Feedback

If complex information is like walking through a bakery, interactive teaching methods take the cake!

Discussions, whether in-person or via digital forums, encourage learners to articulate their thoughts and engage with differing perspectives, deepening their understanding. Hands-on projects take learning from the abstract to the concrete, allowing students to apply concepts in real-world scenarios, which enhances retention and comprehension.

Feedback plays a pivotal role in this interactive learning process. Timely, constructive feedback helps learners understand their progress, clarifies misconceptions, and guides them toward improvement.

As an online educator of adult learners navigating the complex topics of behavior and learning, there are a few go-to tactics in my arsenal. Many if not all of these can be used in both in-person and virtual learning environments: 

• Peer teaching: Assigning students to teach a concept to their peers not only reinforces their own understanding but also fosters collaboration and communication skills.

• Role-playing: This method allows learners to experience different perspectives or apply theoretical knowledge in simulated scenarios, enhancing empathy and practical application skills.

• Debates: Organizing debates on relevant topics encourages critical thinking, research, and the articulate expression of ideas, pushing learners to engage deeply with the subject matter.

• Problem-based learning (PBL): This approach challenges students to solve real-world problems, requiring them to research, collaborate, and apply knowledge creatively, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject.

• Case studies: Analyzing real or hypothetical scenarios can help students apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations, improving their analytical and decision-making skills.

• Flipped classrooms: By having students review lecture material at home and engage in activities or discussions in class, this model emphasizes active learning and allows for more personalized instruction.

With the countless learning avenues in the information age, it's hard not to feel somewhat dazzled by it all. From the snappy convenience of video snippets to the immersive depths of virtual reality, our journey through modern learning is as diverse as it is dense. Despite this bounty of resources, the core essence of learning – curiosity, engagement, and a thirst for knowledge – remains unchanged.

Want a deeper dive? Here are a few hand-picked resources to feed your curiosity:

• How Do I Chunk Content to Increase Learning? - University of Massachusetts Amherst

• Chunking: Breaking Tasks into Manageable Parts - ThoughtCo.

• The Moth | The Art and Craft of Storytelling