Brain-centric Design: The Surprising Neuroscience Behind Learning With Deep Understanding

by Rich Carr

We may use the latest technologies, but we also use a reward and punishment archetype for designing, delivering, and managing knowledge in an age where we are inundated with information and starved for insight.

We all deserve the benefit of learning in a cognitive model, where we learn using intrinsic motivation in neuro-aligned models that make sense. The question, of course, is how?

We believe that Brain-centric Design’s approach is best aligned with how the brain works and how people learn. In it, we accent the important learning elements (what is referred to as the pedagogic content layer) that we know are essential for cognition, agency, and learning with deep understanding. Our method is called the nested egg. It is straightforward, simple, and efficient. But the best part is that it works every time. The essential element in the nested egg is the Big Idea. We have all invariably asked the question, “What’s the big idea?” The Big Idea is a place to logically anchor the rest of the information. Rich’s daughter learned firsthand about implementing the Big Idea when she moved away for college. He tells her story below.

Everyone, including the facilitator, will be more patient, empathetic, and collaborative.

In contrast, the Challenge Wheel graph (on the right) describes a cocreation of the learning space where the facilitator and the students acknowledged their preconceptions, reflected on their emerging ideas, felt free to revise their thinking over time, and finally reported out on what the new information meant for them.

Finally, engage the reader by answering the question, “How does this information relate to Me Here Now?”