How do we successfully teach adults? Or more precisely, how do we facilitate their learning? There are some who would argue that there is no difference when it comes to education, that everyone learns the same way. By answering this question, I will demonstrate, however, that we need to address the differences to provide the best possible educational environment for adult learners. It is first necessary to examine how adults are defined. Malcolm Knowles, the father of adult educational theory, applies the following criteria: First, a person is an adult to the extent that the individual is performing social roles typically assigned by a culture to those it considers adults, such as employee, spouse, parent, responsible citizen, soldier, etc. Second, a person is adult to the extent that the individual perceives himself or herself to be essentially responsible for her or his own life. As a trainer, I have facilitated adult educational sessions with varied success. Why does training that worked with one group fall flat with another group? By improving our preparation and teaching techniques, trainers can create better retention for those trained. Knowing our audience, their background and discovering their expectations are the first steps in improving training. By reviewing general learning theories, teaching techniques and the motivation to learn, we will discover how to better set the environment for learning to occur and increase the benefit to our learners.
展开▼
