Fresh thinking in learning and development - for members only

I have been moaning for years about the quality of training for new workplace learning professionals and the over-reliance that is placed on out-dated pop-psychology and pseudo-science - not least learning styles and NLP. Well, the Chartered Institute of Learning and Development (CIPD), which should be taking the lead in developing its 130,000 predominantly UK-based members, has taken on the responsibility for doing something about this and has set about instilling some of what it calls 'fresh thinking in learning and development'. About time.

Dr John McGurk, CIPD's Adviser on Learning and Talent Development, has commissioned three reports from UK academics:

1. Neuroscience and learning - explores how learning can be informed by neuroscience
2. Cognition, decision and expertise - addresses cognition, decision-making and the role of expertise and professional judgement
3. Insight and intuition - addresses intuition and insight, linking them to the behaviours of creativity and innovation

I've only spent any serious time on the first paper on neuroscience. Now I like to think I'm reasonably well informed on this subject, but there was plenty here to keep me interested:

• How sharing ideas can help us be more creative
• The negative effects of caffeine and late-night game-playing on sleep and, indirectly, learning
• How computer-based training programmes can improve the capacity of our working memory
• How off-the-shelf computer games can develop cognitive skills, with evidence from pilots and surgeons

So, perhaps you're interested in reading these reports. Well, you can, but only if you're a CIPD member. Sorry, but CIPD - you cannot be serious!

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