Adult Learning

Before we can create a learning experience, we must first understand how adults learn best.  Adults learn differently than children.

Only 1/3 of the population will learn well in the classroom.  The other 2/3’s of the population will begin to experience failure.  A classroom is not effective and it will not produce learning in 100% of the attendees. 

1. Adults learn when they want to.  We call this Just-In-Time learning.  Learning systems must be available to the learner – NOW. 
2. In adult learning attention span is ten minutes or less.  If you want to keep the adult’s attention on your topic, change the activity, topic, delivery, or method every ten minutes. 
3. Keep it simple.  Write your message to the lowest level of literacy possible.  It’s not simple to create a simple message.  
4. Adults want to control the learning experience.  They want to set the pace.  
5. A good learning system takes into consideration the variability of the total population.  Since all people learn through play – make the experience fun.  A little laughter is good!  
6. Use technology to deliver the learning in an automated way.  Automation allows the learner to be in control.  
7. Do what you can to accommodate several languages.  Automation can allow you to translate your message and deliver it to the learner in a different language.