How to "hook" learners at the beginning of a signature learning experiences
Are you ready to take your learning experiences to the next level? At The Forest School, our Guides harness the principles from Pixar to craft transformative learning journeys. Did you know that they integrate these techniques daily into the design of our signature learning experiences? Imagine capturing your audience's attention from the very beginning, ensuring they're engaged and eager to dive into your content. Pixar, the renowned animation studio, has mastered the art of captivating audiences with their storytelling prowess. But did you know that their techniques can also be applied to educational settings?
In this blog post, we'll explore four powerful strategies inspired by Pixar to hook learners at the beginning of your signature learning experiences.
Share Something Unexpected: Our guides set the tone for an engaging learning experience with playful surprises, like sporting detective mustaches.
Share Something Unusual: Start by presenting your audience with something unexpected or out of the ordinary. For instance, our Guides might begin with a thought-provoking question like, “We all know that the world wears shoes, but what if we didn’t have to wear shoes anymore?“ This immediately piques curiosity and sets the stage for an intriguing exploration.
Share Something Unexpected: Our Guides surprise learners by incorporating elements of surprise or humor. Picture a Guide walking into the launch wearing a giant poop costume or sporting a dinosaur on their head. It's quirky, it's unexpected, and it's sure to grab everyone's attention, setting a playful tone for the learning journey ahead.
Land People in Action: Engage your audience by immersing them in a vivid, action-packed scenario. Our Guides share personal anecdotes or compelling stories that hook learners from the get-go. For example, they might start with a statement like, "I was only 10 years old when I encountered my first dead body." Instantly, they've transported the audience into the heart of the narrative, leaving them eager to learn more.
Land People in Emotion: Our Guides connect with learners on a deeper level by tapping into their emotions. They share emotional moments from their own lives or from others', such as “I just got a call 5 minutes ago that my grandmother passed away” or “I just got the news that my best friend won an award.”
By incorporating these four strategies, our Guides create captivating learning experiences that leave a lasting impression. Remember, the key is to spark curiosity, provoke thought, and forge emotional connections right from the start. So go ahead, channel your inner Pixar storyteller, and witness the transformative power of our signature learning experiences at The Forest School. And if you're an educator, consider how you can integrate these principles into your own practice to elevate your students' learning journey.