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Adam Voigt
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The danger in what you already know.

Renowned historian Daniel J. Boorstin was onto something when he mused that “The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge”.

Boorstin’s words are a not-so-subtle reminder to continually question what we know … or that which we think we know.  In fact, now presents as a worthy time to ponder what proportion of what we’ve learned is in need of some urgent ‘unlearning’.

Ignorance

After all:
  • we believed that a penny dropped from the top of the Empire State Building will kill you. (Truth – terminal velocity for a penny is 80kmh. Enough to give you a bit of a bump).
  • we believed that goldfish have a seven second memory. (Truth – they have several month’s worth).
  • we believed that we shouldn’t swim for 30 minutes after eating. (Truth – it’ll just make you uncomfortable and crampy … but you won’t drown. Drinking alcohol – that’s another matter!).

There are dozens of assumptions about learning too that need jetisoning from our training rooms. For starters:

  • that having participants put their hand up (and only the most confident one answering) is somehow a sign that the group has grasped a concept completely.
  • that attendance at event-based workshops and presentations are a satisfactory default for building capacity.
  • that a ‘feedback form’ reveals the quality of teaching and educative process deployed. (Spoiler – it mostly reveals satisfaction with room temperature and snack quality).

What do you know that, frankly, you shouldn’t? And when will unlearning these unhelpful assumptions become a bigger priority than learning something new?

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Blog
  • I wish you a 2019 of falling … and getting up.
    January 10, 2019
  • Startle me.
    December 13, 2018
  • Musings about Gender in Education
    December 13, 2018
  • What’s possible if you accept a challenge to change?
    November 22, 2018
  • Little by little
    November 22, 2018
  • Buying stuff versus learning how to use the old stuff properly.
    October 29, 2018
About Adam

Adam is obsessed with Learning. Whether it’s in a formal learning environment, like a school where Adam himself learned so much at the coalface, or in the team, corporate or organizational fields – he is convinced that Learning is the lever you need to pull if you are serious about transformation.

He has an extensive and successful history of success and delivers with humour, down-to-earth style and frankly, right between the eyes! Connect with Adam now.

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    1300 789 422
  • Email
    adam@adamvoigt.com.au

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