1. Adult Learning

2. Objective To review characteristics and attitudes of the adult learner
To explore ways to create a learning environment for your adult learners
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

3. Adult Learners are Different
Is your training geared to how adults learn?
If your training is patterned on how you learned in school, then you may be screwing up
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

4. Learning Environments
Traditional Class Setting
Distance Learning
Demonstration and Hands-on
Self-Study
Link & Learn
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

5. Effective Instruction: Enhanced Learning
July 2016
Some people disagree about the precision of the percentages, but I think we can all agree that retention improves as one moves from PASSIVE learning to ACTIVE learning!
Emphasize the importance of ACTIVE learning for our training program!
Role that KINESTHETIC FEEDBACK plays in this active process of learning.
Most people don’t learn just one way. They will use whatever tools they need based on the demands of the topic.
NTTC - Dallas TRS

6. How are Adults Different?
Adults are older
Have lived longer and have a different perspective on life
Recognize that life is a set of realities
“What is” rather than fanciful notions (children)
“What is” rather than “What should be” (teens)
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

7. How are Adults Different?
Adults have had more experience
They have insights and see relationships not discerned by children or teens
They have a sense of what is likely to work and what is not based on accumulated wisdom
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

8. How are Adults Different?
Adults have needs which are more immediate and concrete than those of children
Impatient with discourses on theory and want to see theory applied to practical problems
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

9. How are Adults Different?
Adults are used to being treated as adults and resent having teachers talk down to them
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

10. How are Adults Different?
A corollary of the preceding slide is that adults enjoy having their talents and information used in a teaching situation
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

11. How are Adults Different?
Adult groups are likely to be more heterogeneous than youth groups
Differences increase with age and mobility
Adults come from a wider variety of backgrounds and intelligence levels than youth
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

12. How are Adults Different?
Adults do not want to spend time going over what they already know
Adults must be able to relate new information to what they already know
What are the implications for Tax- Aide training?
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

13. Adult Learn Just as Well
Adults can learn as well as youth
They may not perform some tasks – both mental and physical – as rapidly as youth
The reason is reaction time, not intelligence
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

14. Intelligence and Learning
In youth there is a correlation between intelligence and speed in learning
In adulthood this is not true
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

15. Adult Advantages
People over 40 have an advantage learning some material
Material that calls for judgment
Material that is related to experience
Adults can do “fast memorizing” more efficiently; however, youngsters retain facts longer
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

16. Adult Disadvantages Hearing
Peak hearing performance occurs before 15
Gradual decline until 65, then more rapid
Men lose ability to hear high sounds
Women lose ability to hear low sounds
Older people
Hear less
Hear slower
Are more affected by ambient noise
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

17. Common Sense Practices To Combat the Hearing Disadvantage
Place seating where people can see everyone’s face
Make use of small groups
Make use of mentors
Teacher should stand still
Teacher should speak, clearly, distinctly, and loudly
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

18. Common Sense Practices To Combat the Hearing Disadvantage
Use more than one sense while teaching
Observe faces of students
Eliminate outside noises
Ask people to speak out if they can’t hear
Repeat questions and answers
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

19. Adult Disadvantages Vision
Older Eyes Suffer
Vision loss in dim light
Narrowing field of vision
Slow adaptation to dark
Cataracts
Defective color vision
Sharp decline ages and after
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

20. Common Sense Practices To Combat the Vision Disadvantage
Illumination
There should be good lighting
Participants should not face direct light
Eliminate glare
Use large writing
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

21. Common Sense Practices To Combat the Vision Disadvantage
Use sharp color contrast
Enlarged type or print
Avoid abbreviations
But be certain major Tax-Aide acronyms are understood
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

22. Planning Your Training Basic Principles
Adults will remember something if it
Is important to them
Is presented in a memorable way
Is repeated, repeated, repeated
Adults will maintain interest if tasks are challenging but not overwhelming
Adults learn best when they have immediate feedback on the task
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

23. Planning Your Training Answer These Questions for your Students
Why am I here?
Where is the agenda?
What I supposed to bring?
What am I expected to do?
Where are the restrooms?
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

24. On the Day of Training Before Class
Have class roster and know who is in the room
Check lighting and room temperature
Smile and greet participants as they arrive
Why: Treat participants as adults
Check to see if everyone has necessary tools (text, paper, writing instrument, computer, etc.)
Have extras on hand
Be sure everyone can see
Allow students to choose their own seat
Why: Accommodate those with hearing or vision issues
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

25. On the Day of Training Leading the Class
Give the appearance of being organized
Why: Adult learners are impatient if they believe their time is being wasted
Be enthusiastic
Speak clearly and loudly; make eye contact
Know your sources of information and cite them as needed (“This is from IRS Pub 35”)
Why: Be the authority
Start and end on time
Why: Treat participants as adults
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

26. On the Day of Training Leading the Class
Share agenda, lunch time and breaks
Why: Adults like to know what’s coming and plan
Have clearly written handouts
Provide practical applications and real-life examples
Why: Adult learners relate material to their experiences
Guide audience members to other sources of information
Why: Be the authority
Repeat audience questions – then address answers to the whole audience
CO1 Instructor Workshop 2016

27. Questions?
NTTC – October 2016