Learning is an Adventure of Head + Heart + Hands

There’s a lot to learn… but first: What is learning?

How can the latest science make learning work best?

What is learning? It’s a process of growth… starting at a neurological level, new connections forming… At work, in life, and hopefully in every classroom, people are working to teach and learn. It’s a mental process — but current neuroscience confirms learning is also physical, social, and emotional. Are you someone committed to learning and helping others learn? If so, perhaps you’ve considered:

How does learning work best?

In the Six Seconds community, we’re focused on this big question and understanding the role of emotions and emotional intelligence as our brains build new insight and meaning. To join us in this search, here are five essential insights plus inspiring quotes.

There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning. 

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Author, 1895-1986

The Neuroscience of Learning

What is learning? And how does it actually work in the brain? Let’s get to the basics.

Mary Helen Immordino Yang was a pioneer in the neurological process of learning, with a focus on how social and emotional brain functions are implicated in the process. We conducted a collaborative interview with Dr. Immordino Yang and she provided invaluable insights into how the brain learns best – and why.

Learning & the Brain: Neuroscientist Immordino-Yang

I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship.

Louisa May Alcott

The EQ Neural Network

Can computers help us learn about emotions? A neural network is “a beautiful biologically-inspired programming paradigm which enables a computer to learn from observational data” (source). To make EQ valuable, it has to be put into action, and that takes learning… we’re experimenting with this powerful technology to make that work better.

The EQ Neural Net is an assistive intelligence, powered by two decades of research on emotional intelligence, that offers coaches insights to help their clients put EQ into action. One key finding from the Neural Net:  when it comes to learning EQ, it’s too simplistic to consider only strengths or weaknesses. Growth requires the right mix. It’s not necessarily easy to see the key ingredients, so the EQ Neural Net provides an objective perspective to help us develop a holistic view of ourselves. How do you feel about getting this kind of insight from a computer?

You can learn more about Six Seconds’ Neural Net, the AI for emotional intelligence, here: 

EQ Neural Net – The AI for Emotional Intelligence

Change is the end result of all true learning. 

Leo Buscaglia

Author, 1924-1998

As a community of changemakers contributing to a world filled with insight, connection, and purpose, at Six Seconds we agree with Buscaglia. What is learning? It’s a process of change. It starts at a neurological level, neurons rewiring… and cascades into global transformation.

How? At the heart of Six Seconds’ methodology is the learning philosophy of six essential principles that make learning work as a process for growth.

A Brain-Based Learning Philosophy

Six Seconds’ Learning Philosophy is a set of principles and practices that guide not only the development and delivery of learning curricula, but our daily interactions and attitudes as well.

Click here to learn more about Six Seconds’ Learning Philosophy, and how it creates unique, powerful and personalized learning experiences.

You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.

Richard Branson

What Works for Learning EQ in Business

The Komatsu case study shows the power of using emotional intelligence to increase employee engagement — and thereby improve bottom line performance. It also highlights a radically simply way to re-conceptualize corporate learning. To the right is a video with the essential points.

To learn more about best practices for implementing EQ learning, check out these resources:

  1. How business leaders are seeking value with emotional intelligence
  2. Management Essentials, the new curriculum with the most important skills for every manager
  3. A recent case study on the power of learning about Noble Goals in business

Success in management requires learning as fast as the world is changing. 

Warren Bennis

Leadership Scholar, 1925-2014

Learning to Coach, Coaching to Learn

What makes coaching such a powerful learning process? The video to the right explores a few questions related to emotional intelligence coaching.

Are one of these coaching questions particularly powerful for you? Share in the comments below, or, for more dialogue, post your response to the video in the Emotional Intelligence Network Facebook Group and ask your EQ community for input.

To learn more about Six Seconds’ Coach Certification, find more information here:

Coach Certification

I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.

e. e. cummings

Joshua Freedman
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