Curriculum Planning/Adult Learner Audiences

Adult Learner Audiences
Many training programs for adults are designed by non-professional adult educators. When designed in an ad-hoc manner, training often ends up designed to accommodate the age, cultural factors, literacy level, and prior classroom experience of the trainer. Training designed in this way may or may not fit the needs of the learner audience.

High-quality training must be designed to fit the characteristics of the learner audience. These characteristics can be determined through a comprehensive learner analysis, and can be used to accurately describe a learner audience within a Training Plan.

The following characteristics apply to groups of learners rather than individuals. Training planned for a group of learners may still require customization during the training session to accommodate individual variations in learning preferences and needs. A summary of learner audience characteristics should reference life-stage, gender, literacy level, and cultural factors; as well as employment and special accommodations when relevant.

Think about which characteristics will describe the group of learners you will be working with. The following tables will give you an idea of the variety of learner audiences and group characteristics that can affect training.

Special Accommodations:
<-- Previous page /  Next page -->