At this year’s Registry Summit, guests had the opportunity to listen to Heloisa Vila, Learning Effectiveness and Product Manager, Brain Aware Training, as a keynote speaker. The topic of discussion was The Neuroscience of Learning, where Vila shared practices that take what we know about the brain and develop those findings into learning techniques to support learning that sticks. 

Vila introduced the nine types of memory and how understanding how they function allows us to develop learning solutions. When we learn, there are physical changes in the brain and when learning methods cater to and stimulate different types of memory, they become more effective.  

The three-phase model of learning was emphasized throughout Heloisa’s presentation as the blueprint for effective learning. Learn, remember, do is the golden formula that stimulates different types of memory. Vila explained how practicing retrieval, activating schemas, and eliciting an emotional connection to materials as part of the three-phase model are all ways to stimulate different types of memory.  

Incorporating technology into learning methods was another important piece of the discussion. Vila introduced how VR and XR can cultivate a safe place to fail in a learning environment through training and simulations. How failure is treated and creating spaces that welcome failure is a key component of effective learning. She described how those studying to become doctors can simulate surgeries and other procedures through VR with room to fail and try again. Role play and simulation are excellent methods for stimulating multiple types of memory. Vila also mentioned the power of gamification and how learning with reward makes for successful learning. Video practice with AI coaching is another example of how technology is evolving the learning industry, although Rita Sehgal and Nick Jones covered more of this in their discussion.  

All these points come together to make up a learning method toolkit. Vila stressed that these methods will not be effective if there is not first a value placed on learning in organizations. Without the expression that learning is welcome and encouraged, no technology or method will be successful. Learning is all about possibility and discovering potential and needs to begin with the idea that anything can be taught and developed within a learner.