(She was just awarded the Helen H. Jackson Women of Valor Award presented by Senators Hillary Clinton and Maria Cantwell in January 2006.) She is an articulate champion of teaching girls (and boys) in ways that work with their developing brains and learning styles. Listening to her describe SGS curriculum makes me wish I could return to middle school and have another go. The eighth grade girls built an airplane last year (not a model airplane, mind you, a real airplane).

Marja eloquently describes what happens to girls when they fail at learning something (like math or science). In frustration, they often quit, vowing never to try again. Often that sense of failure occurs because they are being taught in ways that don't work with their learning styles. We have an education system that is focused more on acquiring knowledge than on applying information to solving problems.

Hmmm....interesting. Don't we deal with the same issues in our training sessions? How often do we attempt to teach people inside our organizations in ways that mirror their frustrating failures from school? How often do we expect people to "get it" without giving them the tools they need to learn? How often do we teach concepts without practical application? If you want a thought-provoking resource on this very topic, take a look at Roger Schank's book, Lessons in Learning, e-Learning, and Training. I think Marja and Roger would find they are kindred spirits.