LearningToGo Newsletter - Vol. 3, No. 1 - January 6, 2017  
Eight Predictions for 2017!

As 2016 draws to a close, I've been enjoying all the "year in review" posts and articles that folks are putting out. I'd like to try something a little bit different, by using my brain's power of prediction to see what we will be bragging out in December, 2017. Some of these "predictions" are already underway, while others are purely aspirational. It will be fun to look back and see how many of these predictions come true! Read more... 
The Brain Science of Keeping Resolutions


If you are one of the many people who made a New Year's resolution, you may have already fallen off your goal. Don't feel too badly. After one month,  only about 64 percent of resolutions are still in force and by six months that number  drops to less than 50 percent. Read more... 

I've been enjoying the carefully curated content from Sam DeBrule in his Machine Learnings newsletter. This week, I'm honored to be a featured contributor. If you're in the learning profession, you need to be ready for the changes that will come as machines continue to get more and more intelligent. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
Featured Infographic
Featured Infographic - Girls and STEAM

Image credit:Challenge Charter Middle School

I'm a big believer in the power of infographics to teach and inspire. The research shows why our brains prefer to get information in graphic form, rather than in text or numbers. This featured infographic has all the trademarks of great design. It's also focused on a very important subject - the opportunity to get more girls and women interested in STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art and math). While you may be surprised to see art included, recent studies have shown a very close connection between art, math and cognition.

The truth is, we need to inspire students from any gender to enter these careers. The future of our planet depends on getting the best and the brightest to work on our deepest challenges. But there is a special problem with women and girls. At some point in their school career (usually around the same time as puberty) girls stop doing as well as the boys in these subjects and start to lose interest in them. There are many complicated societal reasons for this pattern. This infographic tells a story of hope. As more opportunities open up in STEAM fields, we will need qualified women to fill them - there just won't be enough qualified men to satisfy the growing need.

From a purely human perspective, we need to encourage girls to get more involved in STEAM. It's sad to think that at least half of our species face daily challenges in developing their unique genius and talent simply because of their gender. Consider what we could do for the world with all that missing brain power.

(Click image to view full infographic)

What's on Margie's Bookshelf?
Tick Tock This Makes Your Brain Rock
by Andrè Vermeulen

Book_ Tick Tock This Makes Your Brain Rock by Andre Vermeulen

Why I like it
The brain is probably the most complex structure we know. But you don't need to become a neuroscientist to leverage the science of learning. You only need a basic understanding of your brain function and the simple strategies that will increase your brain fitness. Enjoy my podcast with Andrè here and pick up this easy read to get you started with the application of neuroscience to your life.

y common knowledge that there are not enough people to fill the gaps left by the Baby Boomers as they exit the workforce. While most research and articles which address this looming crisis look to overcoming the skills gap , this paper looks beyond entry level to the leadership level. 
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February 9-23, 2017
Essentials of Brain-Based Learning (Live online: Feb 9-23, 2017 and more)
 
Spaces are filling quickly! Register today to be sure you don't miss this live event.

If you could understand what was happening in the brains of your target audience, would you be a more effective trainer, designer, consultant, or leader? Thanks to recent advances in neuroscience, learning and talent development professionals now have an opportunity to alter their approaches to change management, leadership development, training, and instructional design. Learn how the brain receives, encodes, and retrieves information to construct knowledge, and use these insights to improve your learning programs.
Read more...

If you're a member of ATD, remember that you get a nice discount on this and other ATD courses. (And if you're not a member, this might be a good reason to  join.)

All scheduled dates for Essentials of Brain-Based Learning course:
  • Feb 9-23, 2017
  • May 4-18, 2017
  • Sep 7-21, 2017
  • Oct 26-Nov 9, 2017

May 21-24, 2017
Upcoming Event: ATD International Conference and Expo (ICE) (Atlanta)

The Day Everything Changed: How AI Changed the Way We Learn in 2027

While science fiction depicts a world where intelligent robots rebel and overthrow their human masters, the more likely scenario is a world where human beings interface with computers, digital assistants and other technologies virtually seamlessly, changing just about everything we know about work today.
Read more...