learning techniques for adult learners
When working with adults, there are several things you can be doing to ensure you meet their learning needs. These are a few best practices:
• Take an inventory of your students’ prior knowledge and experiences. When instructing students, make efforts to acknowledge students’ experiences and build on what they already know.
• Determine why students are motivated to be adult learners. Work with students to meet their personal goals.
• Identify your students’ learning styles. Use a variety of teaching techniques that will work with a variety of learning styles.
• Consider memory-building techniques, such as advanced organizers, that may help older learners organize the information they learn in your class.
• Provide students with opportunities to self-direct, or at least plan, their learning.
• Provide students with a supportive environment for learning.
Once touching on the different techniques, which is best to tailor or gear the course towards because one may not be able to execute more than two.
Courses are not all created equal. For years I have been attempting to find the right balance and focus. I have the opportunity to teach very different types of courses. Some require more interactive discussion drawing on the students personal experience with the subject matter if it is a class where that best applies as in a Law and Ethics for Professionals class. But in an Intro to A&P for example activities such as saying the muscle while performing the action of the muscles seem to do the trick. So to be specific it may be best to strategically target the learning method and delivery based on topic and objectives. A one size fits all approach will not work as effectively as application of the best technique to the subject matter it works for.
James,
On size rarely, if ever, fits all in education. Thanks for sharing this.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Per the matter of 'best practices' and considering diverse theories for learning modality [dominance], certain content will prove to be more or less appropriate for one activity over another. It has proven to be useful for one to plan lessons around sets of activities that address such.
Strategic lesson planning can help set student expectations for the flow and organization of learning sessions, to anticipate activities, and be more prepared to participate. Routine engagement in a way that appeals to diverse modalities is achievable. It does require thoughtful planning and preparation per each learning [lesson] objective. Flexibility is another necessity to allow for adjustments and assurances that learning occurs for all.
