Adult Learning Principles

1. Adult Learning Principles Adults bring valid experience to the learning situation Adults have immediate needs and objectives Adults need evidence of usefulness.

2. Adult Learning Principles • Adults need to understand how information will impact the current,or their future situation. • Adults can identify their own learning needs. • Adults are responsible for their own learning

3. Adult Learning Principles • Adults appreciate an informal,non-threatening learning environment. • Adults may have negative experiences related to goals/situations. • Adults must have a clear understanding of what is expected of them.

4. Adult Learning Principles • Adults retain information when practice and application is available shortly after information is acquired. • Adults want specific feedback on their understanding/performance. • Adults may have short attention/retention ability d/t “information overload”

5. Adult Learning Principles • Adults work best at their own pace. • Adults learn through active involvement i.e. discussion/experience • Adults learn best by using multiple senses: read 10% see and hear 50% hear 20% say 70% see 30% see,hear,do and say 90%

6. Adult Learning Principles • Adults maintain interest and retain information better when learning with a variety of teaching/learning methods. Source: Based on the work of Malcolm Knowles

7. Brain-based Learning Principles • People have natural low and high energy cycles during the day • Minimal dehydration can lead to lethargy and impaired learning. The brain requires 8-12 glasses of water a day for optimal functioning. • Start up the brains learning mode by providing mental or motor stimulation that promotes creativity through new experiences.(clay)

8. Brain-based Learning • Requiring only one answer is less effective in learning than promoting problem solving,exploration,creativity and multiple answers.(case-based learning) • Movement and learning are processed in the same part of the brain,and more effective learning has been found to be connected to movement.

9. Brain-based Learning Principles • Stress and negatives can be barriers to learning • At the beginning of a session try to provide a few moments of transition to refocus and relax. • Music fosters learning and retention. Classical stimulates creativity and rock speeds up the completion of the task.

10. Brain-based Learning • The brain loses focus when things stay the same,such as monotone voice, too much lecture etc. Try to modulate your voice and vary learning methodologies. • Genuine attention can only be held at a high level for about 10 minutes. Move around the room if you are lecturing! • Give breaks every 45-60 minutes.

11. Brain-based learning • Memory,attention and meaning increase when learning is linked to emotion. Storytelling,poetry and role play help connect emotion and thinking. Too much emotion can lead to learning “shutdown” • Humor and enthusiasm stimulate learning as well as debates and critical thinking activities.

12. Brain-based learning • Participants are more excited by meaning and relevance than the amount of information/content in a session. ELNEC 2000

13. Summary • Participants tend to recall things that are unique,new,presented first,connected to emotions,relevant to their life/work, repeated in various ways,reviewed frequently,practiced,involve movement,spaced with time for processing and reflection,presented in parts and then in wholes, and presented with enthusiasm.(Jensen,1998)

14. Experiential Learning Cycle • Refer to handout Adapted from the End of Life Nursing Consortium Curriculum 2000 AACN & COH