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FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

www.janclaes.info

TEDxGhent PhD Contest, Ghent 2016

How can you tweak your brain to decrease the number of errors you make?

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Why do we make errors?

Cognitiveoverload

Workingslower

Making mistakes

No learning

Lack of knowledge

Physical problems

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Which advise would you give to Thomas?

ThomasHas a demanding job

Has four childrenIs secretary of the local

tennis club

WEEKEND TASKSFinish report

Prepare presentationMake lunch for kids

Prepare club meeting…

Perform one task at a

time!

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How do you decide the order of execution?

Use a system!

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Which system do you use to calculate 18x24?

PROGRESSIVE METHOD

REALISTIC METHOD

VISUAL METHOD

Which systemis best?

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The best system is a system that fits!

Fit with the Task• Simple versus complex

• Specific versus abstract

• Logical versus creative

Fit with the Performer• Prior knowledge

• Cognitive limits

• Cognitive preferences

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Learning style

BITS AND PIECES

GLOBAL LEARNER

BEGINNING TO END

SEQUENTIAL LEARNER

QUESTIONHow do you read a news paper?

(1) Beginning to end – (2) Bits and pieces

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Learning style

BITS AND PIECES

GLOBAL LEARNER

BEGINNING TO END

SEQUENTIAL LEARNER

Work part by part

In an order that makes sense for you

Complete each part before continuing with the next

Don’t mind which phases and in which order

In each phase focus on one aspect only

Work phase by phase

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Field dependency

FOCUS ON ESSENCE

FIELD INDEPENDENT

WITH MANY DETAILS

FIELD DEPENDENT

QUESTIONHow do you tell a story

(1) With many details – (2) Focus on essence

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Field dependency

FOCUS ON ESSENCE

FIELD INDEPENDENT

WITH MANY DETAILS

FIELD DEPENDENT

Take frequent, short breaks

Process information in the order that you receive it

Try to keep solution parts connected

Don’t mind working on multiple parts simultaneously

Don’t mind skipping parts temporarily

Don’t mind solving problems

in one big leap

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Need for structure

CLUTTERED & CHAOTIC

LOW DESIREFOR STRUCTURE

CLEAN & STRUCTURED

HIGH DESIREFOR STRUCTURE

QUESTIONWhat kind of cook are you?

(1) Clean & structured - (2) Cluttered & chaotic

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Need for structure

CLUTTERED & CHAOTIC

LOW DESIREFOR STRUCTURE

CLEAN & STRUCTURED

HIGH DESIREFOR STRUCTURE

You may not need this information, because you

already apply it

But you may like it, because

it explains why your approach works

But you should realize that you can gain a lot from it

and boost your performance

You may not like this information, because it

doesn’t feel natural

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Connect with me

at

www.janclaes.inf

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