Adult learners — what actually matters
Learning objective
Use four working principles to design content adults will actually use.
01 · Hook
Why this matters
Most of what is said about adult learners is folklore. A small core of it is real and useful. Here is the working version.
02 · Core
Four principles that hold up
They bring their experience with them
Connect new content to what they already know and have done. Ignore their experience and they ignore the course.
They learn for a reason
Adults learn what they think they need. Name the why on every screen.
They want to apply it now
Theory has to come with a worked example or a practice that maps to their actual work.
They want to be treated as adults
No "well done" stickers. No remedial tone. Address them as competent professionals.
03 · Practice
Try it
Choose
Which screen is most likely to lose adult learners?
04 · Carry
One thing to take back to work today
On your next screen, write one sentence connecting the content to something the learner already does or already struggles with.
Craig Stanley Studio · Microlearning 11 of 12 · Pairs with the Foundations of Instructional Design course.