III. Participant will demonstrate knowledge of adult learner characteristics

3. Adult Learners - Characteristics of Effective Programs

Dorothy Billington conducted a four-year study to determine what type of learning environment promotes adult learning. Her conclusions identified seven elements of a successful learning environment:

1. An environment where participants feel safe and supported, where individual needs and uniqueness are honored, where abilities and life expectations are acknowledged and respected.
2. An environment that fosters intellectual freedom and encourages experimentation and creativity.
3. An environment where trainers treat participants as peers -- accepted and respected as intelligent experienced adults whose opinions are listened to, honored and appreciated.
4. Self-directed learning, where participants take responsibility for their own learning.
5. Pacing or intellectually challenging. Optimal pacing is challenging participants just beyond their present level of ability. Adults who reported experiencing high levels of intellectual stimulation -- to the point of feeling discomfort -- grew more.
6. Active involvement in learning as opposed to passively listening to lectures. Participants and trainers interact and dialogue, participants try out new ideas in the workplace, where exercises and experiences are used to bolster facts and theory.
7. Regular feedback mechanisms are in place for participants to tell trainers what works best for them and what they want and need to learn and trainers who make changes based on participant input.