Sometimes it is the unexpected that becomes the most memorable. As a member of the Learning Forward Conference Program Planning Committee, my heart sank when I heard that one of the keynote speakers had cancelled the afternoon before the scheduled speech.
But, the next thing I learned was that Marcia Tate had agreed to be the back-up keynote and we had nothing to worry about. Thinking back, that was the biggest understatement of the conference.
Marcia Tate not only received a standing ovation, but she had the 2,000 or so people in audience up and dancing during her presentation!
And, here’s the best part for those of us married to noneducators: her message is transferrable!
Marcia Tate is the former executive director of professional development for the DeKalb County (Decatur, GA) school system. She is the author of several books including Worksheets Don’t Grow Dendrites: 20 Instructional Strategies That Engage the Brain. Her latest book is Preparing Children for Success in School and Life: 20 Ways to Enhance Your Child’s Brain Power.
Tate likes lists of 20s, so her keynote was organized around 20 Strategies that Engage the Adult Brain. The list follows. I wish my fingers could have moved faster to catch all that she was saying, but I did get the highlights:
1. Writing – When someone writes something down, they are more likely to remember it. Tate used the example of preparing a grocery list and leaving the list at home. Heads nodded when she suggested that most people would remember most things on that list.
2. Story-telling – People remember stories. Tate cautioned us use our own stories for authenticity and making connections with others.
3. Use of mnemonic devices such as acronyms and acrostics.
4. Visuals – people remember more of what they see
5. Movement – Tate noted that up to a certain point, attention span can be correlated to age. This is true for students up to adulthood. But, Tate added, the attention span plateaus at adulthood: the longest time an adult can pay attention is 20 minutes. Why did she place this information under the heading of movement? The most effective learning happens when one is moving. That’s why, Tate contends, driving is automatic and why many of us get up and walk around when we need to think.
6. Role-play – We remember what we act out.
7. Visualization – Athletes do this all the time. We can use our mind to imagine and to tap into our brain.
8. Using metaphors, analogy, and simile – Much like story-telling, we tend to remember things with which we can connect.
9. Reciprocal teaching/cooperative learning – Tate quoted the Showers and Joyce research showing that peer coaching has a 90% chance of changing adult behavior.
10. Music – Those who know me can imagine my big smile when I heard Tate mention music. “At the end of a long day, put on music to energize yourself,” she said. Tate also noted that music can be used to calm or create high energy.
11. Use graphic organizers – Some people create tables, others use mind-maps, but organizing your thoughts helps the brain remember.
12. Drawing – Doodling can be good, as many experts are now learning. Drawing can also help you remember things. Any of you who have played Pictionary with me would suggest that I stick to #10!
13. Humor – According to Tate, when you laugh your brain is in a positive state. And here’s something more: Tate contends that the brain can’t differentiate between real laughter and fake laughter. So, even when we laugh just to please (or because we really don’t get the joke), we’re still benefitting our brains!
14. Discussion/brainstorming
15. Games – According to Tate, “you don’t stop playing games because you grow old; you grow old when you stop playing games!”
16. Project/Problem-Based instruction – we truly do learn more by doing.
17. Field trips
18. Manipulatives
19. Technology
20. Group Learning
She closed her presentation by giving us a list of 10 things that can help keep people young. Note that, with the exception of a few, these items align with Tate’s first list above:
1. Heredity
2. Games
3. Music
4. Laughter
5. Optimism
6. Close personal relationships
7. Job you are passionate about
8. Purpose
9. Exercise
10. Spirituality
So, perhaps you can spend the upcoming Christmas holidays using some of these suggested tools. I certainly plan to!
