“In our days of ‘alternative facts’ I think myth busting is needed more than ever. So let’s bring in some fine examples of myth busting for learning professionals”

Ger DriesenApril 21, 2017Learning Notes

Ger’s Learning Notes #07
Myth busting

Some research suggests that a goldfish has a longer attention span than you do. How do you think you stack up? Find out more in this edition of the learning notes where we’ll be myth busting.

I promise you that you will feel better after reading the first notes by Patti Shank and Josh Kaufman. I’m not sure how you will respond to notes 3 and 4 by Ryan Tracey and Bonni Stachowiak – they might poke you a bit to get you out of your comfort zone.

I’ve got my sons to thank for this edition’s theme: myth busting. One of the fun things of being a parent is that kids introduce you to so many new, interesting and fun things. My sons always wanted to watch ‘Mythbusters’ on TV with me. Every episode was fun to watch with them and we all learned a lot.

Here’s a trivia for you. Did you know that Mythbuster Jamie Hyneman received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Twente for his ‘Mythbusting’ work? I think it’s well deserved and a clear statement that myth busting is an important function in our society.

In our days of ‘alternative facts’ I think myth busting is needed more than ever. So let’s bring in some fine examples of myth busting for learning professionals.

(1) Attention and the 8 second attention span

by Patti Shank

gers-learning-notes-07-mythbuster-attention

What’s it about?

There is this popular idea that the human attention span has shrunk from 12 to 8 seconds. So what? The idea also states that goldfish have a 9 second attention span!

Why read it?

Patti Shank does some mythbusting here in a very clear and fundamental way – as only Patti Shank can do.
She delivers us a clear 5-level model to better understand attention.
She provides us her first tips on how to use the conclusions in learning design – and the promise for a follow-up article on ‘designing for attention’, next month.

Where to find it?

https://elearningindustry.com/8-second-attention-span-organizational-learning

(2) The first 20 hours – how to learn anything

by Josh Kaufman

What’s it about?

The idea of the 10.000 hours rule to become an expert is too simple to be true. As Josh Kaufman shows us often good is good enough without becoming an expert. In these cases a 20 hour learning approach might do the job.

Why read it?

It gives great background info on the 10.000 hour rule and explains the original research on ‘deliberate practice’ by Anders Ericsson.
It’s a practical and positive way to reframe our thoughts that we can learn a lot in 20 hours.
It explains the 4 building blocks of how to get the most out of the 20 hours learning approach..

Where to find it?

https://youtu.be/5MgBikgcWnY

(3) Five games every e-learning professional should play

by Ryan Tracey

gers-learning-notes-07-mythbuster-gaming

What’s it about?

Ryan Tracey does some mythbusting here around gaming. He shows gaming has become mainstream and not an activity exclusive for young folks. He advises that you, being learning professional, should be gaming.

Why read it?

While gaming has become mainstream and a part of life for many people, learning designers should be aware of the power of these games and how they can be useful in learning design.
I agree with Ryan that the best way to explore is to start doing – so play the game and experience the experience.
Ryan is so kind to share his 5 favorite games and his opinion how they relate to learning.

Where to find it?

https://ryan2point0.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/5-games-every-e-learning-professional-should-play/

(4) Two persistent myths about teaching and learning

by Bonni Stachowiak

gers-learning-notes-07-mythbuster-teaching

What’s it about?

Bonni Stachowiak debunks two persistent myths related to learning: ‘learning styles’ and ‘the learning pyramid’.

Why read it?

Bonni is sincere in her approach sharing that she took the myths for granted earlier in her career. That creates a connection to the reader: didn’t we all?
After a brief explanation, links to additional resources are shared in this post providing more background info.
Bonni puts the conclusions in perspective and gives direction on how to go forward.

Where to find it?

http://blog.toyota.co.uk/nemawashi-toyota-production-system

About the author

Ger Driesen

Loves to connect people, ideas and inspiration in the global learning community.

On the wish-list to learn: Forging (yes, as forging steel)

Are you hooked on learning?
Get my irregular dose of learning inspiration.

I bundle the best reads and share my summary.

Forms and chat

We use Hubspot to safely collect, save and use your personal data and contact preferences; an example of this is our online chat or forms that you complete in our site.

View details

Have questions or comments?

Feel free to drop me an email or tweet (@GerDriesen).

Check out more content like this

Back to blog overview »

Receive our fresh insights and inspiration
within the world of learning in your mailbox

Forms and chat

We use Hubspot to safely collect, save and use your personal data and contact preferences; an example of this is our online chat or forms that you complete in our site.

View details

Well, you wanted to sign up or get in touch, but it doesn’t seem to work (yet). Maybe a bit annoying, but we want to do this the right way; by getting your permission. Click here to see which cookie-setting you need to accept to fix this.

About us

The learning platform

Learning methods

You know the drill…

We all love to hate or hate to love cookies, the yummy, edible ones and the internetty, online ones. We also use them (the latter) to make our website prettier, faster and better tailored to you. Click ‘Accept all’ if you’re alright with that or make a well informed choice by checking out and adjusting all the specifics under ‘Cookie options’. Mmm, cookie options...

You can find more information on this in our Privacy Statement. | Close

Cookie options

Take a moment...

Your privacy is very important to A New Spring BV. Find below the mandatory and optional approvals you can give us to allow us to process your personal data.

You can find more information on this in our Privacy Statement.

If you wish to withdraw these approvals, please click on ‘forget my approvals’ at the bottom of this page.

Forms and chat

We use Hubspot to safely collect, save and use your personal data and contact preferences; an example of this is our online chat or forms that you complete in our site.

View details

Watch YouTube

Videos on this website are provided from the YouTube or Vimeo streaming video service. YouTube may show you personalised adverts preceding the actual video you want to watch. This consent is optional, but required if you wish to view videos directly on this website.You may wonder, why can I watch vimeo without this consent? Vimeo has an anonymous function which allows us to display the videos without cookies.

View details

Personalised advertising

You probably use Facebook or LinkedIn and also, you probably use Google from time to time to search for stuff. Then, you’ll know that they have advertisements on there. To make those less annoying (i.e. more personalised), we use a number of services on our website.

View details

Website statistics

Feedback is valuable. When it comes to how well our website works for you, feedback is formed by numbers and statistics. That’s why we use Google Analytics and Hotjar to learn how visitors move, click and act on our website. To make it less scary, we anonymise this data before we save it by masking the last few numbers of your IP-address. And we do not allow Google or other parties to use this information for any other purposes.

View details

Functional technologies

You want a pretty and quick website, right? Our (WordPress) website uses a cookie during your visit to our website to check if your browser supports cookies. We kind of need those cookies, because it makes your visit much nicer by remembering personal preferences, quicker performance and loading the correct fonts from Google to properly represent our branding (which we hope you think is pretty, too).

View details

Forget my settings Removed!

“In our days of ‘alternative facts’ I think myth busting is needed more than ever. So let’s bring in some fine examples of myth busting for learning professionals”

Ger’s Learning Notes #07
Myth busting

(1) Attention and the 8 second attention span

(2) The first 20 hours – how to learn anything

(3) Five games every e-learning professional should play

(4) Two persistent myths about teaching and learning

Ger Driesen

Are you hooked on learning?
Get my irregular dose of learning inspiration.

Check out more content like this

Ger’s Learning Notes #51: ChatGPT

Taking a step back: (P)Reflection on 2022 and the year ahead

Ger’s Learning Notes #50: Celebrating episode 50

About us

The learning platform

Learning methods

“In our days of ‘alternative facts’ I think myth busting is needed more than ever. So let’s bring in some fine examples of myth busting for learning professionals”

Ger’s Learning Notes #07 Myth busting

(1) Attention and the 8 second attention span

(2) The first 20 hours – how to learn anything

(3) Five games every e-learning professional should play

(4) Two persistent myths about teaching and learning

Are you hooked on learning? Get my irregular dose of learning inspiration.

Check out more content like this

You know the drill…

Take a moment...

Ger’s Learning Notes #07
Myth busting

Are you hooked on learning?
Get my irregular dose of learning inspiration.