Adult Learning

In Short

Design interventions that respect how adults learn differently
Best for: Adult learning theory resources
Adult Learning is a structured tool for coaching and facilitation. Design interventions that respect how adults learn differently. It provides a repeatable framework that can be adapted to individual, team, and leadership development contexts.
Type of tool: Adult learning theory resources
Expected outcomes:
- Improved ability to design interventions that respect how adults learn differently
- A concrete action or development plan to take forward from the Adult Learning process

In Detail

Adult Learning is a structured framework designed to help coaches, leaders, and facilitators design interventions that respect how adults learn differently. It sits within the category of Adult learning theory resources, making it particularly useful for practitioners working on capability development, team performance, and individual growth in organisational settings.

In practice, Adult Learning is delivered as a 6-step process. The process begins by design learning from the participant's need to know. The session closes by build in reflection time after key activities. The structured approach ensures that participants move through a consistent experience while leaving room for the facilitator to adapt pacing and depth to the group's needs.

Adult Learning provides a shared vocabulary that persists beyond the session itself. When team members reference the same model in day-to-day work, coaching outcomes become embedded in practice rather than remaining as isolated insights from a single workshop.

How to Use

Based on Malcolm Knowles' Andragogy principles. 1. Design learning from the participant's need to know. 2. Draw on participants' existing experience as a resource. 3. Make learning problem-centred rather than content-centred. 4. Connect learning to immediate application in real roles. 5. Allow self-direction wherever possible. 6. Build in reflection time after key activities.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Provides a shared vocabulary that persists after the session and supports ongoing conversations Structured approach ensures consistent application across different cohorts and contexts Directly addresses the challenge of design interventions that respect how adults learn differently through a proven conceptual structure	Risk of over-applying the model — not all situations fit neatly into any single framework Conceptual frameworks require skilled facilitation to connect theory to participants' actual work Some models have limited research evidence; practitioners should be transparent about this

Created by Malcolm Knowles (Andragogy)

When to Use

This tool is suited to the following coaching and facilitation contexts:

Context	Relevant
Individual Coaching	✓
Team Coaching
Leadership Development
Facilitation / Workshop
Online / Virtual

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