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Curiosity & Learning?

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Curiosity & Learning?

Elliott Masie
Oct 19, 2023
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Curiosity & Learning?

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CURIOSITY is, a word that I use several times a day in discussions about workplace learning.

CURIOSITY is one of the main “engines” for learning energy and success in the workplace.

Take a moment and think about yourself as a learner of a new skill or procedure. Imagine two different situations:

  • You, as a HIGH CURIOSITY Learner.

  • You, as a LOW or NO CURIOSITY Learner.

You might fully participate in the learning experience in either of these situations. BUT, your energy, your brain process, your personalization and your engagement in the learning experience goes WAY UP with CURIOSITY.

Sometimes, in workplace learning, we believe that the learner is motivated by the objectives of the program. But, in my experience, motivation is deeply linked to curiosity.

Yet, we often skip CURIOSITY as a key step in designing and facilitating learning - either face to face in a classroom, in a virtual setting, on the job or via an e-Learning module.

Years ago, I did a research project on how learner’s rate instructors of a technical course. The largest factor of appreciation from the learners was the ability of the instructor to either connect with their curiosity or to create an example, conversation or even a simulation that triggers your curiosity to learn.

Here are some questions that we will explore about Curiosity in the coming issues of NOTES:

  • How do we talk about Curiosity for a learner or group of learners?

  • Does Curiosity show on any biological level?

  • Can a learner indicate their Curiosity level in an eLearning or AI learning activity that reframes the content or activities?

  • What do we, as teachers or subject matter experts, need to change to pay closer attention to Curiosity?

Let’s explore CURIOSITY in the coming weeks. Could you start by sharing a comment or reaction:

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Yours in Learning.

Elliott Masie
MASIE Learning Foundation
www.masie.com
emasie@masie.com

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Curiosity & Learning?

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Gary Harris
Oct 20

Perhaps not talk about curiosity with learners as much as finding ways to engage it.

Scenarios, problems, questions that stimulate thoughts about "What would I do in that situation?" or "Where could I get some help figuring this out?"

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Carlann Fergusson
Oct 19

When a learner is in fight-flight-freeze, it is impossible to be curious. At that point they have converged into binary thinking - what is right/wrong, what is safe/unsafe, what is good/bad. So the person may not be low curious but rather not in a safe state enough to be open. As teachers and leaders we need to question if we have created a safe space for people to be curious and as coaches we need to help them overcome their fears - both conscious and unsconscious.

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