The aim of science is not only to produce knowledge but it is also its responsibility to put it at the service of our society, especially for education. Unfortunately, there are still too few initiatives trying to connect fundamental research in cognitive sciences to practical and concrete applications. Why?

1. Applying science? A poorly asked question.

Can we really apply knowledge from cognitive science laboratories directly to the real world? The question seems simple, the answer is much more complex.

In cognitive science, we mostly work in environments called non-ecological, far from real multi-complex situations. We need to take into account this complexity that is often linked to different learning contexts and environments. Because it is the context and its various factors present that will modulate the results and therefore the effects. However, the reality of laboratories is not the reality on the ground, nor is it the reality of uses.

But what is the most optimal approach: to use the results by applying a strategy that is valid in all contexts? The answer is no.

Perhaps the answer is another question, or even another approach.

Maybe the answer is to take the problem the other way around.

Maybe it's time to stop “applying”, but to us “press” on science to develop our skills:

If there is one thing that we have studied in depth in recent years at Rising Up, it is that to create these bridges between the advances in scientific research in cognitive sciences with our new learning environments, we need to better identify the challenges in the field.

Remember what science tells us, knowledge only comes into being if the space is present to welcome him.

2. What innovative methodologies to learn better?

In the academic world we always ask ourselves the question why. At Rising Up, we are always thinking about Question of how.

We need to understand the challenges of our environments to build these bridges and be effective. But how do you build methods that rethink skills development effectively? A big part of the answer could be to:

1. Relying on scientific literature to cover the scope of action and rigorously define the issues;

2. Relying on the factors that have the most weight for a massive impact.

2. Use the scientific approach, to measure the impact and to adjust the action constantly.

So the core of our methodology is to constantly question ourselves about the concrete needs from the field. Then we will search the scientific literature for what knowledge is relevant to guide and support individuals and organizations. And the answer is not Never the same, because contexts are always specific.

3. The steps to develop your skills in the light of cognitive science

How to support individuals in a rapidly changing world? When we talk about transformation, we often associate very technical terms such as Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, etc. But what about our brain ? We need to learn not only about technology but also how to use it, how to regulate it, how to manage it. How to support the development of skills that can never be automated And who are the essence of our intelligence? But what are they and with what tools can we develop them?

For several years we have developed 2 main areas of research in our R&D center:

Axis 1: The skills to be developed: the content

Our work environments are changing (open-space, teleworking, new technological tools, etc.), we must increasingly Collaborate, communicate and adapt to different contexts. Then, if we go even higher, our societal structural changes modify jobs and organization within the teams.

These work environments are changing and becoming more and more sources of discomfort for individuals (noises, solicitations, interruptions, attentional overload, dispersion) at all managerial levels. A great deal of research has shown that environments that disrupt/alter subjects' attentional abilities have direct consequences on the loss of efficiency in a given task (1) but also on their short and long-term memory (2), and even on their feeling of well-being (3).

How can we develop our skills to adapt to this change? Let's massively focus our training programs on skills that are the foundations of our intelligence: Mastering our attention, gaining flexibility, making good decisions, communicating better, etc.

Axis 2 : The means to develop it: the container

Technology is everywhere in our work environments and can be great tools for acquiring new knowledge. More than 75% of French people have a smartphone. In business, access to knowledge is everywhere and interactive tools can maximize the anchoring of knowledge.

According to a new report from the OECD (4), digital technologies can help us live better, and learn effectively. They can allow us to better support individuals in function learners' speed, strategies and expertise. Technologies are therefore tools that can be very effective in supporting the development of skills.

How can we develop our learning capacities with new technologies by creating innovative teaching formats? Let's not only create learning paths that specifically meet the needs and levels of expertise, but also interfaces and designs more in line with our perceptual system.

In recent years, we have made remarkable progress in observing and understanding the functioning of our brain and in particular Why is it such a powerful information processing tool. At Rising Up, we have built learning paths, graphical interfaces, and powerful processing algorithms to stick to our perceptual reality and therefore maximizing their effectiveness.

4. What is the future for training and skills development?

Let's rely on science for better understand the issues. Let's rely on science for better building our tools, to guarantee us a power of action, and thus accompany in Common sense the major transformations. In this way, let's maximize our brain's information processing power and therefore ensure quality learning.

But let's not apply anything. Let us not attach a single method to a complex problem, with the risk of weak, zero or even reversed effects. To build effective and relevant bridges, let's start from the ground and not the other way around (5).

Let's rethink skills development from the how and not from the why.

Let's rethink skills development in this way in the light of science and particularly cognitive sciences.

Want to go further and learn to master these powerful skills, discover our programs.

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