I just finished reading the book "Sit and Get" Won't Grow Dendrites: 20 Professional Learning Strategies That Engage the Adult Brain" by Marcia Tate.  I really enjoyed all the different strategies that she shared.  I am often looking for different approaches to use in my ICT workshops in order to engage my attendees and learned quite a few through this short  book.  I am also going to try her Professional Learning Plan Template to prepare for my future workshops.

Here are a few of my notes, they of course make much more sense when you have read the book.  Included are some other ideas when I was discussing the book with a peer.  Some of these are more obvious than others, but I was looking at applications specifically for technology workshops.

These 20 Strategies approach multiple intelligences in adult learners.

1.  Brainstorming and Discussion   
2.  Music, rhythm, rhyme and rap
3.  Drawing and Artwork   
4.  Project and Problem Based Instruction
5.  Field Trips   
6.  Reciprocal Teaching, Cooperative learning and Peer Coaching
7.  Games   
8.  Role-Plays, drama, pantomimes and charades
9.  Graphic Organizers   
10.  Storytelling
11.  Humor and Celebration     
12. Technology
13.  Manipulatives and Models   
14.  Visualization
15.  Metaphors, analogies and similes   
16.  Visuals
17.  Mnemonic Devices   
18.  Work Study and action research
19.  Movement   
20. Writing and reflection

• Always greeting educators with a handshake and exchange of names
• use sound clips at the end of learning components (Music – Alleluia, Celebration)
• cartoons with subject references
• break up presentations with audio, video and/or images
• use music clips to enhance PowerPoint slides within a theme
• play calming music as participants enter the room
• play i.e. "Welcome Back" from Welcome Back Kotter when coming back from breaks
• For Answers to questions of group – Use thumbs up/thumbs down, use group hum – louder the more you agree
• Use body parts to stimulate analogies or physical objects during presentations.

Ideas for Activities during Workshops:

• Snowballs – educators put questions on paper at beginning of workshop, crunch them and throw them around the room, they answer the questions at the end of the workshop by writing on the papers.
• Use of Beach Ball – share ideas of what was learned at the session by throwing a ball around the room, if it drops start again.
• At beginning of a session brainstorm what educators expect to learn at the session and then cross them out as they are accomplished through the session or change presentation to suit.

Do you use any fun activities during professional development technology workshops that takes advantage of multiple intelligences in order to retain knowledge?  I would love to hear from you.