Principles of Andragogy in the Training Setting

An effective training program takes into account the concept that adults learn differently than do young children or that a traditional teacher-learner structure is not appropriate . When designing a training program , one must understand that it is important for adults to know why they are in the training and to know the importance of the activity Hence a the training should start with the expectation setting wherein the participants identify and share their expectations of the activity as well as the facilitators expectations and , then followed by an overview of the sessions

to introduce to the participants what the training is about

It is also important for adult learners to exercise their own personal decisions in the course of the activity , thus participants should be asked to volunteer to share their ideas or their reactions and not to force them or assign them to do it . Another thing to consider is that adults have already experienced so much of life and that these experiences should be respected and be recognized as an important resource to be used in the activity . In a training program , the previous experiences of the participants can be used to enrich their ideas , new skills or knowledge taught in the training can be related to their previous experiences and then they can share it with the group

Adults also come into training because they want to learn , which means that the training facilitators should design an activity that would encourage the participants to actively participate in the training program this is where workshops , role-playing and hands-on activities are very useful . It is also important that the physical arrangement of the training session is nontraditional , which means that the participants and the facilitator form a circle thus creating the impression that participants are treated as equals and not as students Adult learners also find meaning in what they learn if they know that it can help them become a better person , thus a training program that tries to teach participants technical skills should do so in such a way that participants feel that it is an important life skill , and when training for skills like communication , conflict management or teamwork , the orientation of the activity should always be geared towards enriching the quality of interpersonal relationships

Lastly , adults are internally motivated to learn , thus the training facilitator should not try so hard to motivate participants to join the activities , door prizes or special awards can work but this should be minimal , instead , the facilitators should explain to the participants the importance of the training and what it will do for them in the long term . Recognizing their ideas , affirming their opinions and letting them share and be listened to are great motivators

Reference

Knowles , M (1984 . Andragogy in Action . San Francisco : Jossey-Bass...