Adult Learning Techniques

Studies on attention span shed light on why students have difficulty with the traditional lecture format. Adult learners can keep tuned in to a lecture for no more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time, and this at the beginning of a workshop. Participants must engage the material to retain it. Presentations should be punctuated with periodic activities of 10-30 minutes duration to enable learners to become re-energized for the next 15- to 20-minute didactic presentation.

Concepts you can practice

• Dialogue - interaction between learners and instructors.
• Supportive atmosphere - a comfortable environment facilitates learning along with a nurturing instructor.
• Encouragement of cooperative communication - clear opportunities for discussion between learners and instructors and learners amongst each other.

Adults respond best to learning that is

• Active
• Experience-based
• Recognizing the learner as an expert
• Real-life centered
• Task-centered
• Problem-centered
• Solution-driven
• Skill-seeking
• Self-directing

Workshop Participation Feedback

Rally participants from years past relate to us that their favorite presenters do several things:

• Sticks to the workshop description.
• Focus on the main topic quickly (one presenter works better than a panel of 3 or 4).
• Find a balance between involving participants (through small group activities, etc.) and providing 'expert advice' on the workshop topic.
• Are well organized without relying heavily on PowerPoint or giving "a paper".
• Make presentations widely applicable rather than "case specific".
• Provide hand outs.
• Are available as a resource person to follow-up.