Weekend Building Blocks - 01 DEC 2017


There's no value in collecting blocks unless you're connecting them to build something awesome!
I've been on the fence as to whether my Weekend Building Blocks is a worthwhile project. For the past two (2) months, I've been reading a lot of crap...hardly the stuff worth the effort of sharing. This week, however, was different. So...I'm resurrecting Weekend Building Blocks this week. Just don't expect it every Friday as I'd been doing. haha.

Finnish schools. All-of-the-Above. Sapien tools. Micro-lessons. Bad slide design.
  1. Self-Managing for Complexity. Harold Jarche talks about preparing kids for the future, using Finland's education system as a case. Integration and phenomenon-based teaching are at the heart of the reform. Jarche also draws parallels to the modern workforce.
  2. Our secret formula for writing (effective) multiple choice quizzes. Joel Smith addresses problems with multiple choice format test questions. He then offers suggestions on how to craft proper questions, with proper options. 
  3. Individuals & Interactions Thanks to Processes & Tools. Jurgen Appelo takes on some dogma of Agile, by making a case for processes and tools. What tools and processes do you find yourself using in your various roles in life? For me, as a dad/husband, police officer, and freelance consultant, I use plenty of tools.
  4. Micro-Learning: Why aren't you on the bandwagon? Danielle Wallace breaks apart micro-learning into describing it, giving examples, and arguing benefits. Some believe micro-learning is but another buzzword in education circles. In some cases, I might agree. But my team has been using the principles of micro-learning for a few years - with success. 
  5. Google's CEO Doesn't Use Bullet Points & Neither Should You. Carmine Gallo uses Google CEO Sundar Pichai as an example of a speaker who uses well-designed slides in his talks. Microsoft PowerPoint & Apple Keynote (& Prezi) are great tools when used appropriately. Unfortunately, too many educators, academics, trainers, lecturers, and speakers abuse the tools. 
I also published a blog post this week:
  • Teaching My Kids to Gamble. Card games were a big part of my childhood. As my children grow in age, I plan on using playing cards to help them journey towards a certain mindset, a different way of thinking, and a valuable but oft-ignored skillset.
Lastly, there was a glitch in the catalog & registration system for one of my workshops. I'm teaming up with Thom Dworak again to moderate our 3-day Growing Adaptive Thinking. The Jan 30-Feb 01 interactive workshop is run through MTU #3 (NEMRT) and hosted by the Burr Ridge IL Police Department in Near West suburban Chicago.

The glitch kept the course out of the normal registration channels. At last check, there was only one (1) registrant! And yes, I'm blaming the technical error...rather than conceding there is no interest! haha. Seriously, the program historically filled to capacity in two (2) days...

Please share with your Training Coordinators, Field Training Officers, and instructor cadres. (Sorry, but registration is restricted to police/government employees.)


I appreciate you allowing me to make these recommendations to you.
    ***

    Lou Hayes, Jr. is a police training unit supervisor in suburban Chicago. He studies human performance & decision-making, creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. Follow him on Twitter at @LouHayesJr or on LinkedIn. 

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