Beyond the Brain: Creative Problem-Solving for Instructional Designers & Technologists 
 

Where: Four Points Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center
1125 Boston Providence Turnpike
Norwood, Massachusetts 
Directions

Registration Fee:
NERCOMP Member: $145
Non-Member: $290
 

Event Overview
Instructional design and technology professionals face a common situation: we must solve learning and technology problems, and often our solutions need to be creative.

Design thinking offers a set of methods for solving problems creatively. Brain-based design thinking grounds this creative problem-solving in research about the brain--an added bonus for those of us who need to understand the science of learning for our work. 

We have trouble solving problems creatively when:
- we're stressed,
- we ignore the emotional dimension of the problem,
- we're overwhelmed by information, and
- our solutions lack the flash of creative insight we want and need.

Indeed, research tells us that brainpower or ‘analytical thinking’ often doesn’t arrive at a solution that’s creative.

The root of the problem is: our system for complex reasoning doesn’t line up neatly with the way our perception, emotions, and memories work.
- Our logical reasoning is slow and careful, but it's limited in capacity and duration.
- Our visual processing works much faster than our logical processing.
- Our feelings don't lend themselves easily to being verbalized.
- And much of what we 'remember' can't be explicitly called to mind: it's 'tacit' rather than explicit.

In this workshop, you will learn about the science behind these conflicts between logical thinking and our emotional and perceptual processes, and you’ll learn core techniques to get past the deadlocks of analytical problem-solving.
- Facilitative interviewing offers a way to explore the emotions and stories behind the technical problems we need to solve.
- Information visualization can help us to organize information so that our incredible human visual processing can do the heavy lifting.
- 'Ideation' can help us discover ideas that are creative. 

Participants will receive a free copy the Kindle ebook: Brain-Based Design Thinking https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6FPH0A

Session Outcomes:
Participants will practice:
-  Interviewing to discover the unspoken behavioral and emotional drivers behind technology problems;
- Visualizing relevant data in multiple ways to make complex problems susceptible to our fast and easy-feeling perceptual processing;
-  Perceiving patterns and gaps in visualizations to identify the place where creative solutions need to emerge; and
- Leveraging daydreaming and other non-analytical mental processes to promote creativity. 

Registration Cancellation Policy:
By clicking on the "Order Now" button, you are indicating a commitment to attend and will be held responsible for the registration fee. Your fee can be refunded if you notify us of a cancellation at least 8 days prior to the event via email to nercomp@nercomp.org.

Event Disclaimer:
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