The LEARNABILITY Show

“TEDx for teenagers meets the Eurovision Song Contest meets the European Yourh Parliament meets the BBC” is how Cormac Walsh describes 4-Voices - an amazing movement which has grown from an acorn of an idea to taking over Stormont - the Northern Ireland Parliament - in just 3 short years.

In this episode we learn what is 4-Voices, why it's being so successful and where it's going?

About Cormac:

As an executive coach based in Barcelona, Cormac specialises in communication training, public speaking, English pronunciation skills for non-native presenters and professional development. For over 15 years, he has trained thousands of people in the corporate world and top business schools on how to improve and hone all aspects of their communications skills.

Cormac is also the Deputy Director of Anne Sullivan International School, a private school close to Barcelona, a TEDx speaker and trainer, an entrepreneur and a former National Director of Toastmasters in Spain. As the co-founder of Educate to Communicate, Cormac believes that communication skills can radically change lives and that the younger people begin learning those skills the better! He has lived, worked, taught and trained in Ireland, the US, the UK, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Spain.

Links

In a time when machines are getting more intelligent, what about us human beings? How do we live and contribute meaningfully? How will we develop our careers and coach our staff to be future-fit? How can we nurture our own sense of wholeness, so that we create wholeness in the world around us?

Wendy Siew-Inn Tan is an entrepreneur, writer and speaker who has worked extensively with multi-national organisations in the Asia Pacific region and government agencies in Singapore. As a founding partner of Flame Centre, she partners with clients to develop and engage their human capital. Formerly a police psychologist and an organisational development consultant in GlaxoSmithKline, she holds an MSc in Organisation Development from Pepperdine University.

Topics Covered:

• How to stay relevant 
• The Playground of learning 
• The most common mistake people have faced with a learning challenge 
• 3 questions of career integration 
• Identify evolution 
• Future skills in demand 
• The ABC pathways towards wholeness 
• The 70/20/10 learning space and why it’s not enough

Referenced:

One of the most useful things you can learn is to speak a new language.

But for many, learning a foreign language is too difficult and frustrating.

In today’s show we talk to Simon Brampton - polyglot, language coach and director of Advantage Languages - who is about to publish his 3rd book on language learning 'The Personal Language Learning System' which helps people learn a new language more quickly, easily and with less stress.

Topics Covered

• What is the myth about Polyglots?
• What are the factors that affect our ability to learn a language?
• What are the 7 strategies a good language should have?
• What is Polgari?
• Where do people go wrong when learning a language?

Simon's Links

Since the beginning of this year, the exponential rise of Artificial Intelligence has been impacting learning and development in many ways.

But how?

Can AI improve motivation, how is our relationship with AI developing?

How is it changing the way we think?

What can educators be doing now to ride the AI wave?

How does an AI expert use AI to learn?

To answer these questions and many more, in this second part of this interview with Brooks Cole we divide down the rabbit hole to explore how AI can support learning and even further into world of knowledge, meaning and what it life all about anyway?

About Brooks

Brooks Cole is a seasoned CEO and Creative Director with expertise in communications and interactive design. He is the founder of HoloCosmos, a group focused on human-computer interaction. Brooks also leads HOLO, a holographic search and discovery venture that prioritizes user experience over advertising. His work aims to transform how people find and interpret information and media across various industries. Brooks is a captivating presenter and advocate for emerging forms of dynamic media. His projects include corporate branding, web design, and innovative interface development. He envisions a future where digital experiences integrate consciousness and offer multidimensional navigation. Brooks holds a patent for visual navigation and continues to explore new applications in knowledge media.

Topics covered:

• AI-supported Learning
• AI limitations
• YouTube 'university'
• Paradigm shifting
• Learning strategies

Brooks Cole:

Since the beginning of this year - 2023 - the exponential rise of Artificial Intelligence has been changing the world of learning and development in many wondrous ways.

But what makes AI platforms like ChatGPT and Midjourney so unique and why are they making such a difference.

Today we’re talking to AI expert Brooks Cole and exploring the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence.

Topics covered:

• What makes ChatGPT so unique?
• Why is Midjourney a life changing app?
• What sea-change is now happening in technology?
• What are some top tips for using ChatGPT?
• How to get from Interesting Book to Business Plan in one day.
• What will AI look like in a few years?

Brooks Cole on LinkedIn

Kahoot! is an online platform that by uses elements, such as score-points, leaderboards and timed quizzes to create an immersive learning experience that is taking the world of education, training and communication by storm.

But what are the best ways to get the most out of Kahoot? What’s the difference between Kahoot for schools and Kahoot for business? and what is a Selfie Kahoot?

To answer these questions and many more today we talk to tech evangelist and Vice President of Kahoot at Work James Micklethwait.

James is the Vice President of Kahoot! at work, where he leads the growth of the Kahoot! at work business area. In his position, he oversees revenue, usage and strategy for building out new cases for Kahoot! in a work context.

Originally joining Kahoot! in 2017 as VP of Products, James has led the Kahoot! at work team since its founding. Previously, he has worked in product development and strategy roles for the BBC, ITV and Rightmove.

James holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern History from University of Oxford

Topics Covered

• the difference between Kahoot for schools and Kahoot for businesses
• the litmus test of a successful brand
• the best ways to use Kahoot! in companies
• the surprising benefits of Kahooting in companies
• ‘asynchronous’ Kahoots

LinkedIn 

To maintain their competitive advantage, many companies turn to online coaching and training, but how do training companies keep their own services up to date?

In this episode of the Learnability Show, we talk to Meghla Najlah El-Haque, Learning Experience Manager for EUNEPA consulting about how to stay ahead of the competition in Learning and Development, what factors are important for online learning courses and what a Learning Experience Manager does all day.

Topic covered...

• What tools does a Learning Experience Specialist use?
• How is the world of L&D changing?
• What factors are important for online learning courses?
• What is RAISE Learning methodology?
• How to get the most out of an online course.

Meghla on LinkedIn

The gap between what kids learn at school and what they need to thrive in the real world is widening and there is growing pressure to reconnect schools to real world needs.

In this episode, we talk to Mark Upton whose company Upto U Education Services helps teachers and leaders develop experiencial learning, set up new schools and help grow their core leadership skills.

Topic covered:

• Experiencial Learning
• What business leaders can learn from education leaders
• How can schools become part of a global village context?

Mark Upton on LinkedIn

For the moment, the brain is the most complex organism on the planet. piracy? But how does it work? How can we work with it instead of against it? And what does it have to do with piracy? In this episode, we talk to Lauren Waldman, aka the Learning Pirate who is a three times certified neuroscience expert and a science translator converting scientific gobbledygook into everyday language to help people understand their brains and learn stuff better. Topics covered include: - The gap between the scientific community and the teaching community - Where we go wrong with trying to get our brains to learn - Party tricks to entertain your friends - New projects

The Learnability Quiz Questions:

1: What is the name of the brain chemical that is associated with feelings of happiness and well-being?

2: If you lined up all the neurons in the brain end to end. How long would that be?

a: From bottom to top of CN Tower in Toronto (553m)

b: From most western point in Canada to most eastern point (the Yukon-Alaska border to Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador (5,514 km)

c: From Ottawa to Perth and back again (32,000km)

3: What is Prosopagnosia?

Useful links:

Lauren on LinkedIn:

What issues will the world be facing in ten year's time?

What skills will most help our children succeed when they leave school?

And what is the motto of the Icelandic ministry of education?

In this episode we talk to Dr. Stephen Harris who has taught his way through every kind of education from public to private to alternative. He describes himself as an adventurer, an explorer, a rebel and an innovator and has a PhD in the critical role of collective envisioning to describe and embed a different experience of education

Topics covered:

• What is the key objective for a learning institution?

• What skills will children need for when they leave school?

• What will further education be like in 10 years?

• How can we help schools shift into the 21st century?

Links:

Northern Beaches Christian School 

The global corporate training market will soon be reaching 400 billion dollars. But what's it like on the inside of corporate training?

What are the current trending training courses? 

What are key skills for being a great trainer?

To answer these questions on today’s Learnability Show, we talk to David Rigby, Managing Director of Smart Coaching and Training who is also an expert on diversity as well as a professional networker. 

David is in a unique position to see the world of corporate training from 3 sides: the client, the trainer and the organiser.

Topics covered in this episode:

• How to get noticed on social media
• Tips for making networking work
• How to get the most from a diverse team
• How training in the Middle East is different from training in Europe
• What are key skills for being a great trainer and an ideal associate?

Links:

David's Website

www.smartcoachingtraining.com

David's contact email

davidr@smartcoachingtraining.com

LinkedIn profile

Humans have been cooking since the dawn of civilization and many of the normal foods we eat today such as bread and beer have recipes dating back thousands of years.

So when it comes to learning to cook, where does tradition meet innovation?

Today we talk to Francesc Balagué, the academic director of one of the newest cookery schools in Spain, the CIB - The Culinary Institute of Barcelona where the chefs of the future are trained.

Website:

https://cib.education/en

Eduhub Website

http://www.eduhub.cat/

LinkedIn

How motivated would you say you are to learn your subject?

Would you be more motivated if you were trapped in a dark, damp room and learning was your only means to escape?

In today’s episode we talk to Untold Play founder and Escape Room designer, Terry Pearce about Escape Rooms and Game Based Learning. 

What is game based learning? 

Why is it such a good way of learning?

What are the 6 levers of learning?

Show Notes

Terry Pearce on LinkedIn:

Is compulsory education in reality counterproductive?

Are we teaching children to dislike school by telling them what to study?

What would happen if schools were a democracy where the children decided for themselves what to do all day?

Today we’re going to talk to Luke Freedman who set up the democratic school Banana Mountain, where the students decide for themselves what they want to do. 

Is it a recipe for success or for general mayhem?

For more information:

Website:

https://www.bananamountain.world

Madrid Active Scool

https://madridactiveschool.org

The Phoenix Trust

https://www.phoenixtrust.org

Ojo de Agua School

Are we teaching our children the things they will really need in this fast changing world?

Are academic subjects still valid or would children benefit more from focussing on soft skills such as leadership?

Sallyann Della Casa has one foot in education and another in tech. She combines the two in her Human Skills Training company GLEAC whose goal is to make the world a better place in a way which is good for the planet and good for humans, too.

For more information:

LinkedIn

How lucky are you?

How much is your life affected by luck?

Is it possible to create your own good luck?

In this episode we talk to Christian Busch, author of The Serendipity Mindset who teaches people how to find more money in the street, how to meet the love of their life and how to get offered a business deal too good to refuse.

Website:

www.theserendipitymindset.com

Christian Busch:

We know that we learn better when we learn with others, but does that mean simply learning in a class, like we did at school or is there a better way of doing it?

Today we talk to Ville Vuolle and Jukka Hassinen from the Finnish teacher training company Tiimiakatemia about how their specialised method of team-learning works.

Tiimiakatemia Website

https://tiimiakatemia.com/en/

Ville Vuolle LinkedIn

Imagine a place where young teenagers could learn the skills they needed for life in the big wide world as effectively as possible.

What would that look like?

Our guest today hasn’t just imagined it, he’s created it. He’s the founder of the Self Managed Learning College near Brighton, U.K. where students impress everyone by achieving things they couldn’t have done in the standard education system.

Show information:

SML College Website

For the last 100 years, the default methodology in our schools, colleges and universities is to turn up, shut up and do what you're told. But as new and better learning methodologies are embraced then new learning institutions are created,

Today we talk to director of Teamlabs Barcelona about what makes it different and how it has achieved the highest employability rate of any university in Spain.

Teamlabs website

Whether you're self-employed or a multinational company, the ability to innovate is a key factor that will determine your successful future.

But creativity and productivity cannot coexist. In this week's episode we talk to Innovation coach and corporate trainer Marc Mekki about how he helps people up their innovation game.

Notes:

Marc on LinkedIn

The importance of physical, emotional and mental wellbeing for people in the workplace is now widely recognised.

But in our schools, the concept still hasn't caught on: when a student suffers anxiety, stress or rebels, the idea is still held that it's a problem with the student rather than the school system.

This week we talk to clinical psychologist and author Naomi Fisher about how school is a counterproductive learning environment and what can be done to rectify it.

Links:

Naomi Fisher on Twitter

https://twitter.com/naomicfisher?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Changing Our Minds: How children can take control of their own learning

https://www.amazon.es/dp/1472145518/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_J26Y5X6JWTVXSV5HX1W1

A Mathematician's Lament: How School Cheats Us Out of Our Most Fascinating and Imaginative Art Form

https://www.amazon.es/dp/1934137170/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_50199ZY6N0H04FAEXQ6T

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

https://amzn.eu/d/gXKmezI

The Side Effects of School: A Crisis in Mental Health Can’t Be Solved Through Therapy

Today there are many different options to traditional schooling: homeschooling, unschooling, alternative schooling.

But what’s it really like to do these? And if money were no problem, which option would be the best?

To answer these questions and many more today we talk to Alice Mattioli who's tried all of them and she’s going to share her firsthand experience. She’s also a finalist of the this year’s 4VOICES public speaking contest for schools.

Learnlife alternative school

Our guest today is international freelance journalist and founder of www.mumabroad.com, Carrie Frais

We talk about what skill set journalists really need, what TV presenters do with their feet while reading the news and the 4VOICES initiative and why it's so amazing.

References:

Carrie's websites

Today we talk to founder and director of Native English Experiences, Mairi Murphy about the challenges and opportunities of studying abroad.

We also learn about transition years and why they are great.

Information:

There are many different ways to learn - some more effective than others.

Today we talk to Per Kristiansen who is a trainer of LEGO Serious Play Facilitators. 

But what is LEGO® Serious Play® and why is it such a powerful tool for learning?

Links:

We all know that part of the formula for learning to enjoy life is about being fit - both physically and mentally.

But how do you get fit if you hate going to the gym?

And what would you say are the 6 key factors if only one of them is to get regular exercise?

To answer these questions we talk to someone who went from Mechanical engineering to becoming a professional online fitness coach. He specialises in middle aged men all from Spain to Australia from Finland to Mauritius.

Links:

Hec Salgado

https://fitnesstmb.com

How old do you have to be before you start learning robotics?

15? 10? How about 5 years old?

In this episode, we talk to Preschool robotics teacher, Nando Smolders and take a peak behind the door of his school Gimbebe.

For more information: