Questions Drive the Learning Process

We learn by seeking answers to our questions. "Learning Style" describes how we prefer to receive and process new information. Each style has a favorite question—a question that they focus more time on answering than other questions.

• Type One learners are more interested in "Why?"
• Type Two learners are more interested in "What?"
• Type Three learners are more interested in "How?"
• Type Four learners are more interested in "What if?"

Whether you are sharing information in a training classroom, or a board room, consciously answering these four questions moves learning from theory into action.

• Answering "Why?" establishes the importance of the information.
• Answering "What?" uncovers all the information and data available.
• Answering "How?" determines the "real world" application.
• Answering "What if?" allows the learner to take ownership.

Too Much “What” Equals Low Retention of Information
Most training sessions focus way too much time on the “What.” When the trainer spends too much time sharing content—the “What” you need to know—little time is left over to create opportunities for the learner to identify what the content might mean in their lives. The learner gets the theory, but never gets to a point in the learning process where they become motivated enough to figure out how to apply the theory.

Too much emphasis on the "What" is always accompanied by minimal application of training in the real world.

When a trainer recognizes their own learning preferences, they can begin to see where they can stretch to better address all four parts of the learning process—not just their preferred part. By designing learning that leads the learner through the answering of all four questions, we design learning that is meaningful, productive and fun.

Putting it Into Practice
When designing or delivering training, begin by asking yourself what question(s) in the Learning Cycle you focus on the most. Do you spend more time on the Why? The What? The How? Or the What if? Begin thinking about how you can balance your attention on these four questions:

• Why is this important enough for me to want to learn?
• What information is available to be learned?
• How might I use this?
• What if I put my own spin on this, how might it work better for me?

When preparing for a meeting or problem-solving session, try using the four questions as a framework for the agenda:

• Why are we here?
• Why is this issue important?
• What information do we have on this?
• What data exists?
• What exactly is the issue?
• How can we address the issue?
• How will we move into action?
• If we make these changes, what will be the outcome?
• If we address this issue, how will it change our future?

Enjoy the process,
Jeanine O'Neill-Blackwell
President/CEO, 4MAT 4BUSINESS