Learning: The Magic of Making Training FUN

I was looking at one of Bob Pike's old newsletters. He talks of the 90/20/8 rule. Adults can listen with understanding for 90 minutes. They can listen with retention for 20 minutes. We need to involve them every 8 minutes. At the end of 20 minutes learners may comprehend what is being taught but they cannot retain the information. Look at Bob Pike's Creative Training Techniques book to get more information.

The use of humour to support learning is not new. John Cleese of Video arts fame helped to pioneer the use of humour in corporate training with great training videos such as Meetings Bloody meetings. He sold his training video company with all the great humour training videos for great sum of money. The power of humour is becoming increasingly valued in the business world, and there is a growing trend towards trainers and facilitators acquiring the skills that will help them to introduce humour into sessions as they see fit, rather than simply putting on a video and sitting back to watch. Improv is a tool to help trainers learn the art of spontaneity as it is humour and not jokes that makes an impact on the learner. Visit http://appliedimprov.ning.com/profile/KatKoppett Dawn Smith looks at the link between humour and learning, and how laughter can be used in the training room to help make the message stick. Visit http://www.businesszone.co.uk/item/172912