Have you recently given a presentation to a group of individuals with varying backgrounds and only had a certain amount of time and one presentation at your disposal? It’s not easy. Adult learners often come to training presentations with different experiences, strengths, and specific needs than more “traditional” learners do. But as with all learners, the key to reaching adult participants is in engaging them and “meeting the learner” where they are in terms of their comfort and experience level with the technology or the subject matter at hand.
In New Marketing Institute’s (NMI) Level Two Certification course, our facilitators and subject matter experts (SMEs) teach clients to use TerminalOne more efficiently, using many of the top methods for engaging adult learners. Below, we outline the five top ways our methods can be incorporated into your company’s internal training and curriculum design.
1. Meet the learner where they are.
Perhaps the most important aspect in adult learning theory is to establish a baseline for learners and move from there. By assessing the varying backgrounds and skill-sets ahead of time, you can easily tailor the class to fit individual needs. If possible, take a poll of participants before the class to assess their range of experience and tailor your content accordingly. On the day of class, ask your attendees what they are looking to get out of their learning experience, which will allow you to emphasize the most pertinent subjects.
SEEING IT IN ACTION: During your presentation, ask something like, “By a show of hands, what is your knowledge level of behavioral targeting?”
2. Providing relevant and timely materials to accompany class.
Learning is for life, and certain industries (ours included) are moving at the speed of light. It’s important to keep yourself abreast on changes or updates to your presentation’s subject to ensure you are current. This includes updating any and all workbooks you may provide for students to take home, as well as the materials you present to the class. Additionally, providing attendees with links and websites for them to refer to after class will keep them up-to-date.
SEEING IT IN ACTION: Refreshing workbooks and class resources on a regular basis will keep your material fresh and your trainings current.
3. Make it fun and easy to learn.
Think back to your days as a full-time learner, from elementary school all the way to college. Did you appreciate the teachers who were able to make learning fun and gave you adequate breaks in which to let the information sink in? Whether using humor or games, adult learners are just as likely to be more engaged when you appeal to their sense of fun and don’t overtax their attention spans with dense material without an adequate resting period.
SEEING IT IN ACTION: Maintaining enthusiasm, a conversational tone and giving participants adequate breaks will allow your learners to feel relaxed and at ease when digesting new material.
4. Provide a hybrid learning solution.
In addition to maintaining enthusiasm, conversational tone and having an appropriate amount of breaks, adding in a multimedia component to your class will keep participants engaged. Whether it be videos, sound clips, or games, by keeping the class moving in different directions, your participants will be more likely to not only stay awake, but remain at a high level of motivation.
SEEING IT IN ACTION: Sandwiching your presentation with a video and a pre-determined exercise or game.
5. Make students apply what they’ve learned.
You don’t go to a class just for fun. It’s important to test the abilities of students to ensure they retain what they’ve learned. By incorporating an assessment component into the class materials, you will have students apply their knowledge in real-time during the training, making them twice as likely to retain everything they’ve learned.
SEEING IT IN ACTION: Giving students an assessment within a week of their class participation, then grading it, to allow them to correct any knowledge gaps.
For more information on adult learning theory and these five methods of engagement, please join me for New Marketing Institute’s Train the Trainer course, held at MediaMath headquarters, November 21st from 10 am to 12:30 pm (EST). There is dial-in available if you would like to attend remotely. Please email info@newmarketinginstitute.com for more information or to sign up.