The Accidental Systems Librarian by Nicole C. Engard & Rachel Singer Gordon

Author:Nicole C. Engard & Rachel Singer Gordon [C. ENGARD, NICOLE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781573878159
Publisher: Information Today, Inc.

Adult Learners

Training adult learners requires a different approach than you may have been used to having in high school and other classes. First and foremost, you’ll need to convince adult learners about the advantages that training will bring to them personally. If adult learners are not self-motivated and not convinced of the value of training, they will not learn. This is as true of your patrons as it is of your staff. Along with self-motivation, realize that adult learners also place a high value on their time, which they don’t want to feel is being wasted. When training adults, refrain from spending a great deal of time on buildup or on covering material that is impractical or irrelevant to your trainees’ immediate needs; they will merely tune you out. Particularly when it comes to technology training, you need to keep sessions practical and to the point. Avoid both theory and jargon as much as possible and try to relate training back to concrete examples of how they can use what you are showing them in their jobs or in their daily lives.

Adult learners also tend to learn best by analogy. They have had years to develop their knowledge and a mental map of their world, and the best way to reach them is by demonstrating the parallels between what you are trying to teach and what they already know. For instance, many smartphones and tablets allow you to move from screen to screen by “swiping”; this is analogous to physically turning a page in a book or magazine, and such a comparison can help a new user understand the interface more quickly. The more of these connections you can help your trainees, especially beginners, make to their pre-existing stores of knowledge, the more comfortable they will be with using new technology.

Lastly, it is important to develop training skills along with your technology skills. Merely knowing the ins and outs of a particular program is insufficient. Realize that many adult learners will be uncomfortable with or fearful of technology; some aspects of computers still hold a peculiar mystique in the minds of many adult learners, which you may need to work to overcome. Always keep in mind what it is like to confront a new application or technology for the first time and try to empathize with your trainees. Cultivate patience along with the communication skills discussed in Chapter 1.

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