The document discusses applying recent neuroscience discoveries to eLearning design. It describes experiments showing that struggle leads to increased brain activity and size in performance areas, which shrink after mastery is reached. It also discusses implications like learners not mastering a skill until they can perform it without thinking, and how simulations and scenarios can form false memories by engaging emotional and cognitive centers.

1. Using Neuroscience Discoveries to Inform eLearning Design Dennis MacQuilken Artisan Technology

4. Doris Learns to Drive

5. Absorption of Knowledge Cognitive and Emotional centers engaged Performance and contemplation Struggle enlarges these sections Regions remain large, grow larger as the struggle to master continues Regions shrink once mastery is reached Simplified sketch of the skill is stored in the lower brain

9. Mirror Neurons Recognize actions of others & allow them to feel like our own Paired with with neurons in key action, language, empathy, and pain centers Fire identically when we perform an action or watch it performed

10. Implications Response is similar for: Performing the action Witnessing the action Hearing about the action Mirror Neurons enable: Empathy Skill building through mimicry Vicarious experience

11. Formation of Memories “ Real” Memories Empathetic Memories “ False” Memories

12. Real and False Memories “ False” Memory: An experience you did not have, but remember Stored and retrieved from memory just like “Real” memories So what? Learners who imagine themselves having an experience will remember it when they encounter a similar situation in real life

13. Forming a False Memory Imagination Stories with mythic qualities: Emotional color Vivid binary conflict Characters with familiar human dilemnas

14. Structure of an Example Scenario Exploit empathetic memory: 2nd or 3rd person narration Strong emotional impact Include a clear success or failure outcome Incite a false memory: Vivid binary conflict Characters with recognizable traits & flaws Emotional color Argue each side of the conflict Final compromise/outcome must be the message you want to send Do it wrong: Asking learners to give advice about what a character in a scenario should do Stripping out the emotional and personal attributes to “focus on the point” No plausible or engaging conflict to resolve Too many points to convey

19. Examples? I would recommend rote learning for: (type answers into chat)

22. Poll The ability to speak a language like a native disappears if you don’t start before this age:

27. Questions?

29. Thank You! Dennis MacQuilken [email_address] Artisan Technology … Brilliant eLearning Artisan Technology