Training Design Tips – Using Adult Learning Principles

So you’ve finally decided to go for it and design your first workshop, tele-class, or home study! Now what?First things first. You need some working knowledge of adult learning principles and styles to guide your course design.One of the books I always have on my shelf is Telling Ain’t Training by Harold Stolovitch and Erica Keeps. They outline four key principles from Malcolm Knowles, a leader in the adult-education field.

1. Readiness. Adult learners come to you with previous knowledge, attitudes, and priorities – all of which effect their readiness level.
2. Experience. Take into account their experience level – not just with your content, but general life and business experience as well.
3. Autonomy. Usually adult learners decide what they learn. This decision-making process matters, because when they decide to participate they become better engaged, retain more information, and stay committed to your course.
4. Action. Your course must provide a way to apply new information right away. Adults take a course because they need new information or a new skill now; they want to apply it now and see results.

Next is learning motivation. Remember, your audience is taking your course most likely because they made the choice to be there. Regardless of your subject matter, your learner is usually motivated by a specific need. Your learner may be motivated by:

1. Achieving a specific goal. For example, if your course is on internet marketing, your learner might be a small business owner looking for specific ways to increase internet traffic. Does your content outline specific goals?
2. Social contact and relationships. The learner is interested in meeting and building relationships with like-minded people. So they might like to use Twitter or join an email list to collaborate during your course.
3. Learning for the sake of learning. You may have some students who are there just because they love learning or your topic.

Lastly, consider learning styles. This refers to how a learner prefers to consume, process, and apply new information. Most of us are strong in one area, but also use the others as secondary methods. Some styles to consider when creating your course:

1. Visual. Visual learners might draw diagrams, view video, or use pictures to help better understand information.
2. Auditory. Auditory learners might like to listen to podcasts and tele-classes to help assimilate information, or participate in a coaching conversation. They might also like to read a transcript along with listening or viewing.
3. Tactile/Kinesthetic. The learner might prefer learning by doing or movement-oriented activities, or taking notes in a student guide as part of class participation.

Basic knowledge of learning principles and styles will make a noticeable difference in your course design.Author: Amy FrankoArticle Source: EzineArticles.comProvided by: US Dollar credit card

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