MODULE TWO: Adult Education Principles
OVERVIEW: Preceptor Education >> Module Two >> Adult Education Principles
There are three principles about adult students that are essential to effective learning and instruction.
- The adult learner brings all previous experiences to their study, can integrate new information with previous experiences readily, and has formulated belief and value system. As a preceptor, compel the learner toward challenges that are slightly beyond his/her ability.
- The adult learner expects relevancy and so the question of how is this information/situation important (rationale) is present in the mind of the adult student. Orient his/her learning toward outcomes and competencies. Relate the present situation to future examinations by teaching general rules (Step 4 on the one minute preceptor). Ultimately, he/she are practical thinkers that need practical advising.
- The adult learner is self-sufficient, self-directing and excels with guidance rather than direction. Be knowledgeable of his/her strengths and limitations. Begin the learning endeavour with identified goals and he/she will connect with you/learning and will enquire feedback.
The Learning Environment
As preceptors, we facilitate learning by:
- Fostering a learning environment of appreciative inquiry.
- Encouraging learners to participate in their own education.
- Engaging him/her to identify strengths and learning paths.
- Providing safety in the acknowledgment that mistakes will happen and endorse learning from these mistakes.
- Encouraging candour, advocating mutual respect and supporting self-reflection from the learner.
- Employ student strengths to achieve success of clinical competencies.
- Create learning activities that build on his/her strengths to achieve outcomes.
- Maintain success and build toward future goals.
The Learning Cycle
The clinical student has arrived to the placement having demonstrated a level of motivation to pursue their new discipline and have spent years learning the theoretical and technical skills required for this new career. As clinical educators/preceptors, your role is to provide opportunities for practice, application and ongoing refinement of his/her abilities.
Techniques to promote skills through practice and application:
- Connect learners to what they already know
- Apply solution of problems
- Create something new
These can be accomplished through memorization, drill and practice, classification, skill practice, critique, problem solving, discussion, mapping. The benefit from utilizing the already present learning cycle to strengthen areas for improvement is that the student will efficiently encode new learning to long-term memory.