Setting a clear intention about emotion improves learning. How do we do that as teachers/trainers/facilitators? In the way-back machine, I studied acting and learned that an audience felt an actor’s intention — even without words. The script might say, “I don’t want any cookies,” but the director might tell you, “actually you want the cookies a lot… your intention is to get them!” When an actor has that intention, even though it’s hidden inside, the audience can tell. 

Sometime later, as a teacher, I found much the same:

When I was clear on my intention, students understood better.

How can we apply the same logic to clarity about emotions? It starts with one of the most powerful questions we can ask ourselves as educators: How do I want my students to feel?

Researchers in social neuroscience emphasize the power of utilizing emotion to facilitate learning. But as a classroom teacher or a corporate trainer  . . . or as a parent working to help my child learn better . . . how do I actually do this?

In the Six Seconds learning philosophy, we identify learning as a process of change, and so we use the Change MAP as a framework to design learning as a transformational process. While I’ve written before about that structure, I didn’t highlight the all-important RED LINES:

In each phase, the red lines show the emotional transition required to build the energy needed to move forward in that phase. Without that emotional engagement, the change process stalls. The same is true for learning.

How emotion improves learning… Follow the Map!

In the ENGAGE phase, at the start of a lesson or module, we have practical goals: Orient the learners. Activate prior knowledge. Wake up their brains and prepare them for forming new neural connections.

Of course, cognition isn’t enough. We need them to feel engaged too! You can see the red arrow in this phase goes from frustration toward excitement. If they start deep in the abyss of frustration, they’re not suddenly going to be bouncing on the edge of their seats . . . so we need to move a little way toward excitement. Toward passion, joy, fun, wonder, and a sense of possibility.

As educators, we can facilitate that shift by engaging our own emotions. What about this topic is wonderful? What’s the question or possibility that excites us? And, of course, it’s not about us . . . we need to find what, in this topic, is exciting for our learners. If we can’t find that, we will fail to engage them.

At the Heart of Learning: From Fear toward Courage

In the ACTIVATE phase, our practical goal is to bring the learning to life. To make it real — to put it into action. This is the meat of a lesson, where learners have a new experience, try something, practice, and have an Aha! moment.

The emotional goal is to move from fear toward courage. Again, it’s not a “flip the switch” situation. If someone is awkward, uncomfortable, resistant, overwhelmed . . . they won’t instantly be jumping into the unknown with a cheer. However, if we remember that our emotional intention in this phase is to fuel courage, they will respond. And, again, fear isn’t bad. It’s a powerful protector — so it slows down change. 

As educators, we also need courage here. Courage to ask a deeper question. To challenge our own and learners’ assumptions. To be the “rock in the river” unmoved by their fear or reactivity. Courage is about heart, and it grows from knowing that this moment matters. That despite the risks, it’s worth standing up.

One of the most simply powerful ways for us to encourage courage is by building safety. If we respectfully demand a safe environment, we need to respectfully intervene even in small discouragements (such as a titter of shame-inducing giggles when a student tries and fails), Notice the roots of the words encourage and discourage? This is a simple, powerful case where emotion improves learning.“Learning is a risk. That is why learners need courage – and safety.”Click to tweet

The Moment of Meaning: Synthesis and Reflection

The Six Seconds methodology is grounded in a learning theory called constructivism. In this approach, the goal of learning is not “acquiring knowledge,” but a more complex and challenging achievement: The creation of meaning.

The REFLECT phase is where this happens. We look back to mine what we’ve learned — to analyze and synthesize. Then we need learners to look ahead with what may be the most important question of every learning environment: How will you apply this new insight?

The red line here is from judgment to curiosity. Judgment isn’t innately “bad.” Our brains our wired to judge . . . to discern . . . to rank . . . but once we are certain, there’s no more need to learn. So we need to actively, consciously, carefully re-open the case and consider: Is there more to the story?

Curiosity is about openness. It’s a process of seeking connection, of viewing multiple perspectives, of listening to ourselves and one another. In this phase, as educators, we urgently need our own curiosity. If we’re asking questions to which we already know the answer, our students will know that there’s no need for an open mind. Ask questions where you genuinely want to hear new answers. Be surprised by alternate viewpoints. Delight in discovery.

“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not Eureka! (I found it!) but rather, ‘hmm… that’s funny…’”

– Isaac Asimov

Republished from a blog post by Joshua Freedman | Mar 1, 2017, with permission