Same session, completely different learning experience by design

Nick Shackleton-Jones says in his revised book "How People Learn":

"...the only effective way to start helping someone develop [is] by asking, "What do you care about?"

Amen.

Here is how I start every content training session -- I go around the room and ask every person, "What brings you here today? Why are you sitting in that chair?"

Student: My boss made me sign up.

Me: Do you have any sense of what she was thinking?

Student: Yeah, I messed up a report last month with the wrong information.

Me: Okay. We're going to be looking at data integrity after we create a good workbook structure. Make sure you are solid on that approach when you leave here today. That's a good place for you to focus. The rest is gravy! If you have any uncertainty about how to create that structure by the end of class, let's talk.

Every student, every class. Help them know what to pay attention to based on what they care about. Some people will absorb it all, others come away with one solid idea they know how to implement. Both are successful because they got what they came for.

It will be worth the 15 minutes it takes. I promise you.

Zoom training version:

"Everybody take a minute and drop the answer to this question into the chat: What brings you to the session today? What is your most burning question about this topic? No generic answers allowed!"