Adult Learner Introduction

The process of learning is a lot different in adults than it is in children. Adults learn best when they can compare newly learned information to prior experience and know why they’re learning it.

They also learn through problem-solving and hands-on activities that are based on real-life scenarios.

One of the most important factors to consider when training adults is that they need to see immediate value in what they’re learning. If they don’t feel that what you’re teaching them has any value, you’ll lose them immediately.

Fundamental Concepts of Adult Learning

There are several learning styles that individuals use to absorb new information. As a trainer, you’ll tend to be naturally good at learning and teaching one or more of these styles. The goal of a good trainer is to learn to teach to all styles of learning. We’ll be covering more info on learning styles throughout this course.

What Characterizes an Adult Learner?

Beyond age, it’s really important to understand what motivates adult learners. To deliver an effective training experience, you need to be aware that learners are mainly driven by internal factors.

Adults enjoy having control over their learning, which explains why the use of training methods like group activities are super useful. They bring not only a ton of knowledge, but also life experience that can add incredible value, and even excitement to most classroom environments that would otherwise be dry and boring.

Adult learners are also centered around their individual goals and they look for how the information you’re teaching will be relevant to their specific workplace.

They generally have a practical mindset and want their input to be respected.

Additional Factors to Consider

Beyond the standard definitions of adult learning, there are additional things about adult learners that you need to consider. Some of these include:

• They can be sensitive to the physical environment including room temperature, lighting, and noise levels
• They can have a higher tendency to complain about interruptions or discomforts
• There’s the possibility of them having vision and hearing problems
• They can have set habits and strong opinions
• They can have a strong sense of pride
• They can have a strong rationale for opinions and habits
• They can be resistant to changing their ways

Try to plan for these considerations in advance and make any potential accommodations. For instance, you might want to adjust the lighting or put individuals with vision problems in the front of the classroom or training space.

While you still may end up needing adjustments throughout your session, it’s best to account for these factors during your planning process.