Here are a few ideas on how to really reach and teach those adult learners and hopefully keep them coming back for more. The adult learner is one of Extension's largest audiences. Educational research has found that the adult learner is a unique individual requiring diverse teaching techniques. Many extension agents have the subject matter expertise to teach, but often lack a solid foundation in education or teaching techniques for adults in particular. Many of us, even with an educational background, have training in how to teach children or youth but mistakenly assume that the adult learner requires the same techniques.
Adults are a unique group and have particular learning characteristics.
They like their learning to be realistic and applicable to their life and job situation. They enjoy being asked for their input and respected for their knowledge and life experiences. They generally do not like total lecture-type presentations, but prefer to have some added interaction with the presenter. Malcolm Knowles is probably the most well-known research educator who has brought us the concept of teaching for the adult learner, or andragogy . Proponents of his educational philosophy would encourage group activities or discussions and involving the individual's prior experiences to be part of those discussions.