Utilizing Adult Learning Theory in Your Presentations

When presenting new or technical concepts to your audience, understanding adult learning theory can be extremely beneficial. I spent time building e-learning courses on a variety of technical business topics before deciding to focus my career on presentation design. I researched all I could get my hands on regarding how adults learn and remember new information at this time.

Adult learning theory, often known as andragogy, is a set of principles that educators and trainers can use to create effective learning experiences for adult learners. Andragogy makes the following assumptions regarding learning design:

1. Adults need to know why they need to learn something

2. Adults need to learn experientially

3. Adults approach learning as problem-solving

4. Adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value

Today we will explore how understanding these principles can help you create better presentations for your audience.

First, let's consider the characteristics of a typical adult learner. They have a wealth of life experience and want to connect new information to that experience. They also want to be involved in the learning process and have a say in what they learn. Adult learners are often goal-oriented, meaning they want to learn something that is relevant to their lives or their work. Since they have limited attention due to their busy schedules, they need to see the practical application or relevance of what they are learning quickly.

With this in mind, let's explore how understanding adult learning theory can help you create more effective presentations:

Connect new information to prior knowledge

One of the most important aspects is that your audience must connect new information to past knowledge and experience. When presenting new or complex topics, it is critical to find methods to relate the content to something your audience already knows. This could include employing analogies or real-life examples to help your audience grasp how the material relates to their career, department, or sector.

Involve the learner

Adult learners prefer to be involved in the learning process, which necessitates that they be engaged with the topic. This involves, as a presentation designer, figuring out how to make your presentation dynamic and engaging. This could include exercises, conversations, or other sorts of audience interaction.

Make the material relevant

Your audience is often goal-oriented, which means they want to learn something that is relevant to their lives or their work. This means finding ways to make the material relevant to your audience by highlighting how the information will benefit them or their organization, or framing the information in a way that shows its practical application. Know your audience!

Keep it practical

Finally, adult learners need to see the practical application of what they are learning. This means finding ways to make the material concrete and applicable. This could include the use of case studies, demonstrations, or simulations to help your audience understand how the information applies to their real-world situations.