Surprise Learning Tactic 1 - wear virgin contact lenses

Andy Nulman's book, POW! Right Between the Eyes has 9 tactics to build surprise - the first is WEAR VIRGIN CONTACT LENSES.

Remember your first day in your job, everything was new and you saw endless options for improvement. So will the person who replaces you! What happened? You lost your virgin contact lenses.  In learning contexts this is the centre of the learning gap.  People know they need to learn something, but they can't let go of what they already know.  It's like standing on the edge of a pool on a steaming hot day, you want to cool down but at the same time you're worried the water might be TOO cold.  

The predominantly linear thinking of the business world of following procedures and quality systems makes it hard to stick your head up.  BUT following the status quo never led to creative solutions, or learning new ways.  Einstein is correct, you can never solve a problem in the framework in which it was created.

So, to learning! Some ideas to find your virgin lenses.

1. Begin workshops with stories that challenge convention - surprise endings!
2. Use DeBono's six thinking hats technique to encourage learners to see things in different ways
3. Build creative/design thinking into workshops
4. Avoid workshops that provide answers for learners, let learners work together to find their own 
5. Encourage 'fantasy thinking', great ideas reside in the seemingly stupid  
6. Use drawing as a learning tool, everybody can draw and it helps to 'see' things differently  
7. Who remembers boring things!  (see brain rules post) 

8 more surprise tactics to come over the next week or so!