The Science of Adult Learning: Leveraging Self-Direction, Life Experience, and AI Technologies

I love learning! It’s no surprise that I transitioned from a career in accounting and auditing to instructional design, because I also love helping people learn. Recently, I took an online course on prompt engineering. But, my goodness… the course was dense…

…and obviously not designed for a busy professional. It was lecture-focused and provided few relatable examples, making it difficult to work through. As a result, I didn’t get the full benefit I had hoped for.

My experience got me thinking more about the science of adult learning and how it could have been approached in a better way. Let’s start by examining the characteristics of adult learners.

Traits of the Adult Learner

Adults bring unique characteristics to learning. They are typically self-directed, bring a wealth of life experiences, are goal-oriented, and ready to learn when they see the relevance to their personal and professional lives. When designing programs for adult learners, the learning should implement tactics that favour these traits:

  • Self-Direction: Adults prefer to take charge of their learning journey. The design should provide options and flexibility for how they can learn , to the extent possible. This will significantly boost engagement.
  • Life Experience: Adult learners bring rich experiences that can be leveraged in learning scenarios, making content more relatable and practical. A successful design draws upon that experience to make it real for them and shows them how to apply what they are learning right away.
  • Goal-Oriented: Adults often pursue learning with clear, specific objectives in mind. Learning objectives should be clearly stated so they can be sure the course will align with their own objectives.
  • Readiness to Learn: Adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance to their work or personal life. Similar to what we said in Life Experience – it should be relevant so they can apply it right away.

Key Theories in Adult Learning

Don’t just take my word for it – these observations are supported by key learning theories developed by experts in the field. Here are three key ones:

  • Andragogy (Malcolm Knowles): Andragogy emphasizes the importance of relevance and practical application in adult learning. Key principles include the need for self-direction, the use of life experiences in learning, readiness to learn, and problem-solving over content absorption. 
  • Transformative Learning (Jack Mezirow): This theory highlights the role of critical reflection and perspective transformation. Adults learn by reflecting on their experiences, leading to shifts in understanding and behavior.
  • Experiential Learning (David Kolb): Kolb’s learning cycle—Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization, and Active Experimentation—emphasizes learning through experience and reflection, which is particularly effective for adults.

Putting it all Together

So…how can we best ensure that adult learners are going to have a positive learning experience, and not be frustrated like I was? Here are three approaches to consider when designing programs targeted at adult learners.

  1. Create real-world relevance: Understand your learning audience and develop materials that are immediately relevant for their jobs or personal lives. This practical application is crucial for maintaining interest and motivation.
  2. Make it interactive and experiential: Incorporate simulations, case studies, and hands-on activities that allow learners to practice and apply new skills in a controlled environment.
  3. Let them learn at their own pace: Empower learners by allowing them to set their own goals and choose learning paths that suit their needs and interests.

Enhance these approaches by leveraging technology. E-Learning and blended learning environments offer flexibility that suits the busy schedules of adult learners. Take it one step further by using mobile platforms, and now your learners can use their “down” time to learn while traveling by bus, train, or airplane. Finally, AI-driven experiences can deliver tailored learning that is relevant, challenging, and accessible.

Are you looking to create the best learning experience for your learners? Smartfirm has been designing interactive and experiential learning for over twenty years and can now enhance your programs with AI. Contact us to share your learning challenge and let us help you design a memorable program for your learners!

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