CIPD’s Research Report, Neuroscience in Action, Apply insight to L&D practice highlights ways to enhance your knowledge in this area to help validate Learning & Development (L&D) methodology.

The report explores 8 case studies where organisations have used neuroscience to inform and influence L&D. It provides the following advice for practitioners who are considering introducing neuroscience;

• Think about business priorities – how do strategies support these?
• Take action – try ideas discovered from research,
• Blend new insight with existing knowledge and experience,
• Get business buy-in – utilise an existing opportunity,
• Let people explore.

Benefits and challenges are featured and the research participants describe the barriers faced when trying to introduce neuroscience and how these were overcome.

One common theme in this report is;

Those that don’t engage with neuroscience are missing out. Some believe a working knowledge of neuroscience will be an essential part of L&D professional knowledge in the future

The research participants shared 5 techniques to introduce neuroscience to L&D solutions;

1. Introduce storytelling – let the learners process the information themselves,
2. Have regular breaks to aid reflection,
3. Give information in short bursts to avoid information overload,
4. Get people moving in face-to-face learning events,
5. Spark emotion to create stronger memories.

A research participant explained there would be a move within their organisation from;

Learning being an event, to learning being a process.

Neuroscience is revealing why spaced learning is so effective and giving scientific evidence to support blended learning solutions. Learning portals allow information to be accessible, not only, before, during and after an event, but also at the time of need. These materials aid the learning journey and become an effective tool for reflection which is essential for learning.

At the time of publication, 2014, most application of neuroscience had been in face-to face events. With the rise of digital and social learning these techniques may be limited and the report acknowledged there may be a knowledge – application gap.

The views and opinions expressed in the resources shared are solely those of the original authors and other contributors. These views do not necessarily reflect those of Focus N Develop.