Revolutionising Corporate Training Through Neuroscience
Companies today spend millions on corporate training without much thought for quality learning outcomes. Numerous studies have shown that the majority of employees will forget up to 70% of content covered in a training program within 24 hours and 90% within a week. Why? They are being taught with traditional teaching methods that should be relics of the past, the ones that have been shown to deliver poor retention rates of information and low skill acquisition. These traditional training methods such as slide presentations and lectures have been shown time and time again to result in very low amounts of information being retained due to a lack of sufficient activation in the key regions of the brain for learning and due to information overload – simply put the content doesn’t engage and there is too much of it at any one time. Our brains are not wired to learn this way.
But it doesn’t have to be this way – there is a whole field of scientific research and evidence for an approach that does work. It is working in more traditional educational environments all across the world – and that is using the science of learning. Education designed around how the brain learns, how it takes up new information, how it processes this information, and how it stores this information. Now, covering this topic in one blog post is absolutely impossible but I will give you three key overarching changes that can be implemented to improve the quality of your training without having to dive too deep in the nuance of the literature.
Here are three neuroscience backed strategies to revolutionise your corporate training:
1. Embrace Active Learning – Traditional corporate training is rooted in passive learning practices such as lectures, slide presentations, seminars, dull online modules, all with minimal interaction or practical application. These methodologies need to be replaced with active learning strategies such as problem-solving exercises, group work, role-playing, real-world scenarios, and hands-on workshops. These active learning strategies engage key brain regions such as the brain’s motor cortex and prefrontal cortex, leading to a deeper understanding and better retention of the information as neural pathways are strengthened. Studies have shown that learners who engage in active learning strategies perform significantly better than those who learn the same information via passive methods with one study showing learners who engaged in active learning recalling 1.5 times more information than those who engaged in passive learning.
2. Harness the Power of Emotion – When learning environments are safe and designed to reduce stress, learning outcomes improve significantly. When learners are in what they deem to be a safe learning environment, the brains amygdala (emotional centre) is activated in a positive manner whereby the release of dopamine is triggered which enhances the formation of memories in the brain. Conversely, when a learner does not feel safe or has anxiety, cortisol levels are increased which negatively impacts the hippocampus resulting impaired memory formation and poor retention of information. Ensure that in your training environment that there is positive reinforcement, collaborative learning, and real-world relevance of content to ensure that learners feel safe and are not impacted by anxiety, helping them to process new knowledge and applying it in the future.
3. Implement Spaced Repetition and Retrieval Practice – Instead of information being crammed into day-long training sessions, for optimal retention of information, learning needs to spread out over time. Many studies have shown improvements in retention rates of up to 90% when learners received new information across a broad time domain compared to that information all being given in the one instance on the same day. Further to this, implementing retrieval practice of information whereby the learner has to actively recall the information compared to traditional methods of just reviewing learnt material, results in significant improvement in knowledge retention. The process of actively having to retrieve information has been show in brain imaging scans to strengthen neural pathways that have formed associated to that knowledge. The more that learners actively recall information as opposed to passively read or highlight it, the more they strengthen the neural connections and in turn increase the solidification of that knowledge.
By aligning your training methods with how the brain learns, you are not just improving learning outcomes such as increased knowledge retention, you are fostering a culture of continual learning and adaptability, all whilst improving your financial return on investment. The application of neuroscience methods offers a roadmap for companies to move away from the traditional training methodologies which have been shown to have poor learning outcome for employees and poor return on investment for businesses to an approach that has been shown to significantly benefit learners and will deliver a great return on investment for businesses.
Still not convinced? Here are some further points to show how utilising corporate training that is aligned with the science of how we learn can further benefit businesses beyond improved knowledge retention:
· Improved Employee Productivity – Skilled employee’s complete tasks more quickly and efficiently whilst making fewer mistakes, and contribute more to the goals of the organisation.
· Workforce Engagement and Retention – Employees are more likely to remain in organisations that invest in high-quality training that supports their development.
· Decision Making and Problem Solving – Active learning methodologies that engage the prefrontal cortex improve analytical thinking and adaptability, leading to better decision-making at all levels of an organisation.
· Financial ROI – Research indicates that for every $1 invested in effective high-quality training, businesses see up to $4.70 in increased revenue per employee, emphasising the financial importance of improving the quality of training within an organisation.
The implementation of these neuroscience backed strategies is not just about improving learning outcomes; it is about transforming your organisations approach to development. By embracing active learning methodologies, understanding the role emotion plays in learning, and implementing spaced repetition and active recall, companies can create a phenomenal learning environment aligned with how the brain works.
The benefits of these strategies extend far beyond knowledge retention. Organisations that adopt these methods can expect to see increased productivity, higher workforce engagement and retention rates, enhanced decision-making capabilities, and a significant return on investment.
As we move forward into the ever-changing business landscape, the businesses that prioritise effective neuroeducation methods aligned with how the brain learns to their training program will thrive. It is time to leave outdated practices behind an embrace the power of neuroscience to unlock the full potential of your workforce.
Remember, investing in high quality training is not just an expense; it’s a strategic investment in your company’s future. By aligning your training methods with how the brain learns, you’re not just educating your employees – you are empowering them to drive the success of your business.
Author: Daniel Smart
