Another Handful of Tips 93R – Training Adults

Five of the best tips to help adults learn

As we age our hearing, sight and physical reactions decline. Learning can be slower. Allow extra time when teaching mature adults. There is no lessening of the ability to learn as we age.

Here are some of the best ways:

1. Get people involved in planning their own training needs

List topics and let them help select what they need to learn and which topics are the most urgently needed.

2. Say why new skills are needed

Arouse interest to encourage people to want to learn new skills.

People learn best when they know they need new skills.

Structure training around tasks relevant to work needs, to problem-solving, or life situations.

3. Make training challenging and enjoyable

Lecturing is one of the most ineffective way to train, so keep talks to a minimum.

Set up teams and let the teams compete for solutions to problems or new ways to work.

Adults have many work experiences to share.

People enjoy training games and challenging competitions. Try to make training fun and enjoyable.

4. Use a variety of training methods

People will learn more quickly if you use different training ways. Use group discussions, role playing, simulation or problem solving exercises etc. (See source books for dozens of training ideas. “Training Secrets” contains 49 different ways to train.)

Use plenty of good quality visual aids and handouts.

5. Short bouts of learning are better than one long session

Short repetitive training sessions can help reinforce learning.

At each new session review the previous session before you start.

– Geoffrey Moss
mossassociates.co.nz

“People learn best when they are enjoying their training and recognise their needs.”

Source: “Training Secrets – Helping adults learn”. Available from Moss Associates Ltd, New Zealand & Cengage Learning Asia, Singapore. Also available as a hard copy and as an e-book from Amazon.com.