A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering a cold iron.
Teaching is more than just transferring knowledge and skills from an expert to a student. It’s actively engaging student in the learning and development process. It’s creating excitement, demonstrating applicability, providing feedback, and developing someone else’s expertise and ability to independently think critically about and solve problems within their fields.
Which is why expertise alone is not enough to create effective online courses. Training (including creating online courses) must use engaging instructional methods that foster excitement and enable learners to apply newly acquired skills and knowledge in the real world.
This guide explores five core principles of adult learning you should know about to design online courses optimized for adult learners.
You have to acknowledge and respect the experiences and backgrounds that adult learners bring to the course. They will interpret what they learn through the lens of these experiences. Design courses that integrate their experiences in the learning process by showing relevancy, drawing on real life examples, and even raising awareness to incorrect, outdated, or biased information.
How to use this in your online course design:
Adult learners generally opt in to learning. They choose what and when they learn. And they usually know why they want to learn. They have specific goals in mind and expect the course materials and structure to help them achieve those goals. If the course doesn’t meet these expectations, learners will disengage and quit.
How to use this in your online course design:
“Why do I need to know this?”
Adult learners need to know why something is important to know. They need to see immediate value in your content and methods, and how it will positively impact their personal or professional lives (such as completing tasks, solving problems, or using a skill). Relevancy leads to greater motivation and better results for learners and increases their trust in you.
How to use this in your online course design:
People don’t learn by memorizing stuff. They learn by doing. Adult learners want to take what they learn in your course and apply it to their life right away. Create courses that include task-oriented and scenario-based activities to allow learners to apply what they learn and explore solutions on their own. Even if they make mistakes, they’ll learn from them with your guidance.
How to use this in your online course design:
The best courses give adult learners the space and time to apply new knowledge and skills on their own. And they need someone to guide them in that process and provide feedback to help them improve. They also need someone to celebrate wins. Instructors should be as invested in correct application as they are teaching the concepts. Feedback will help learners reach their maximum potential.
How to use this in your online course design:
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