Being a recent student and Certified Trainer in Sharon Bowman's Training From the Back of the Room has given me a WONDERFUL tool set for design, development and delivery of training using brain-based active learning strategies. Sharon's work has changed the way I "do" learning and performance and the learners in my classrooms are thrilled!

1. 10 Things I’ve Learned
From Sharon Bowman
By Deborah Ward

2. #10 - John Medina Rocks

3. Lunch
Lunchdon’t
#9 - Humans need to feel safe in order to learn. By
connecting them to each other, we help create an
environment that is conducive to learning.

4. #8 - Collect feedback early and often
Learners LOVE to tell you
what they know.
Don’t wait for the
“evaluation” to find out if
knowledge transfer has
occurred. Leverage Sharon’s
tools (a sample here) to
collect feedback on
knowledge/ skill transfer
while you still have time to
do something about it!

5. #7 - Brains & Bodies Need Breaks

6. #6 - Content is KING
Every part of your
lesson plan
should connect
learners to
content

7. #5 - Signals trump Shouting
Establish signals with your learners
at the beginning of the training that
allow you to quietly and
authoritatively regain their attention.
Some ideas:
● Raise your hand, when learners see your
raised hand they raise theirs and turn
their attention to you. Soon everyone
follows suit.
● Flick the lights on and off a few times.
● Clap once if you can hear me, clap twice if
you can hear me … soon everyone is
clapping and paying attention to the
facilitator

8. #4 - Get them to Commit to Action
Give learners the opportunity to
make a note (and a commitment)
about what is important to them
I WILL
__________
__________
__________

9. #3 - Learning is FUN
Have a “snowball”
fight inside, write with
your butt … just a few
of the ways to let
learners laugh out
loud while they learn

10. #2- Adults DON’T learn differently from kids
everyone learns best
in an engaging,
active, and self-
directed
environment

11. …. and the #1 thing
drum roll,
please

12. #1 - Lecture is NOT a “must”
There are dozens of ways to introduce
learners to content that are more effective,
interesting and engaging than lecture - four
of them are pictured here - give learners a
framework, reference and access to each
other’s knowledge and background as tools.
They’ll connect with content, come up with
questions and solutions and improve their
ability to remember and access resources
long after the training is over.
Card
Partners
Standing Survey
Self-Correcting
Worksheets
Reality Based
Role-Play

13. Resources
1. Brain Rules by John Medina
2. Training From the Back of the Room (Active/
Accelerated and Brain-based Learning)
a. http://www.bowperson.com/
b. Books
c. Micro-courses