Adult Learning
Action Management Corporation designs and delivers its training courses based on the following principles of adult learning:
- Seeing an immediate application of the program content to daily lives, specifically to success in the workplace
- Trying out new behaviors in a safe environment
- Being actively involved in the learning process
- Their previous experience is acknowledged and they can build on what they already know
Immediate Application
Adults are motivated to learn when they can see that the content will help them solve a problem, avoid negative consequences (e.g. an angry customer) or do something better or faster. Designed into our training programs are several opportunities for conferees to examine and discuss the important questions of, “Why is this material important?” and “What’s in it for me?”
An example
These opportunities might take the form of dialogue generated by instructor-led questions posed around typical situations. E.g. “Have you ever been on the phone with a customer trying to get a description of a service problem, and no matter what you asked, you could not get a clear explanation of the problem?” The conferees would then talk about their experiences in this situation, and the problems that ensued. The instructor would then link their experience to the next block of content. “There are some actions you can take to make sure you get an accurate problem statement. Let’s take a look at them…”
Success in the Workplace
Success in the workplace can be defined in a number of ways. At a minimum, it means bringing learners to the point of, “I feel comfortable and confident doing my job. I know what I’m doing and I know I’m doing it right.”
To help learners achieve this state the first task is to define what ‘doing it right’ means. Action Management Corporation will meet with subject matter experts on the client’s staff and combine this with its own knowledge of the field to arrive at an agreed-upon list of the following:
- What is expected of the learners on the job?
- What are they not doing that they should be doing?
- What are they doing that they shouldn’t be doing?
