For Adult Learners…Remember…

First impressions are the most lasting:

First class sessions are very important.
Thorough preparation is vital.
Awareness of student needs is critical.

Adults remember pleasant experiences better than unpleasant ones:

Make class interesting and vivid. Provide for continuous success. Avoid dull presentations.

Practice makes perfect:

A skill that is not practiced is soon forgotten. That which is being practiced must be correct. Practice should follow instruction as soon as possible.

Adults learn what is meaningful to them:

Base instruction on stated needs. At each session provide new information or a skill that can be used immediately. Present information on the level of an adult. Incorporate the background and experience of the adult student.

Allow for the transfer of information:

Learning is easier when new facts are related to known facts. Move from the simple to the complex. Teach the concrete, then the abstract.

Adults enjoy an informal, friendly, secure climate:

Be enthusiastic. Give praise. Be willing to learn from adult students. Allow for interaction. Demonstrate respect.

The greater the degree of student involvement with instruction, the more likely the student will learn:

Allow for participation in the various phases of instruction. Provide opportunities for students to help one another. Encourage students to learn cooperatively.

Source: Leon County Schools Adult and Community Education Retention Guide.