I’ve found that a hugely effective and engaging element of my CPD sessions is, early on in the session, to revisit a model for learning.
There are several reasons for this:
- It sets the scene – introducing various learning challenges so that the CPD to follow is offering solutions to problems that people recognise. There will be a rationale for any techniques we discuss located in an understanding of this model.
- It gets people talking early on. I find this is important. Sometimes circumstances dictate that you just have to deliver things lecture style but if you’re running an interactive in-person session, it’s great for people to start talking through their understanding of how learning happens and why it might not happen.
- It provides an early opportunity for you to model key techniques like Think Pair Share, Cold Calling, Signal for Attention, Checking for Understanding, Probing Questions – in the way you run the room to support the discussion of the model.
