Some conferences with a focus on neuroscience are not planned utilizing the knowledge we have about how the brain best takes in information. In fact, I attended one not long ago that violated all four of the principles put forth in this blog post on planning meetings for optimum brain involvement and learning. This was particularly descriptive of much of that conference:
Have you seen the film Mondo Cane? The Italian shockumentary consists of vignettes intended to raise Westerner’s eyebrows. One memorable and disgusting scene shows farmers force-feeding geese to make Pâté de foie gras. They stuff food down the throats of these animals and then fasten a brass ring around their throats, trapping the food inside the digestive tract. Repeatedly jamming them with an oversupply of food eventually creates a stuffed liver pleasing to the world’s chefs. The geese are sacrificed in the name of expediency.
Most conferences try to overstuff their attendees with several days of eight to ten hours of presentations. Subject matter experts shovel data dumps into attendees’ minds thinking more is best. Pushing too much information, without enough time devoted to context, meaning, connecting the dots and digestion, does not nourish the brain. The attendee’s learning is sacrificed in the name of expediency. ...
Have you ever felt like a goose?
In contrast, the 2010 Summer Institute is designed with the brain in mind. From the Web site of this summer
conference "Neuroscience & the Classroom: Strategies for Maximizing Students' Engagement, Memory & Potential":
The Institute will be hands-on. You will collaborate in facilitated discussions and analyses of case studies to develop scientifically grounded approaches for understanding and meeting the diverse cognitive, social and emotional needs of students. You will discuss and share lesson challenges and successes as a learning community and identify ways to continue learning about the brain and learning after the Institute is over.
And
Full-time participation and preparation are expected throughout the Institute. The Institute is hands-on. ... A full schedule of class sessions and activities is held each day, amounting to a program total of 22 hours. Additionally, there will be assignments and group projects each evening for the next day.
This program sounds like an event where people will learn—and remember what they learn. And, most important, attendees will likely use what they have learned after they leave.
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