Brain Basics for Adult Learning

Providing effective learning opportunities is what we are all about as development professionals, but sometimes we are more concerned with WHAT we want people to learn than we are with whether our audience's brain can process that information. Based on the work of brain scientist, John Medina, this session will explore how the way our brains are designed can impact the way information is processed. Understanding a few of Dr. Medina's "brain rules" can help us design messages that are more effective and have a better chance of sticking with our audience.

Speaker: Alyce Hartley

For the last 30 years, Alyce has worked with adults and young adults to improve communication and human interaction skills. She spent 12 years as the coach of the UAB Speech and Debate team and a member of the faculty in UAB’s Department of Communication Studies. In 1997 she began working for UAB Human Resources. She spent 16 years on the staff and as a manager for the department of Organizational Learning and Development. She joined the staff of Children’s of Alabama in 2013 as Director of Organizational Development.

Her areas of expertise include public speaking and presentation skills, conflict resolution, interpersonal communication, change management, time management, team building and leadership skills. 

Alyce is a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She has been married for 33 years to Steve Hartley. They have four children ranging in age from 20 to 30.