Learning Methodologies and Approaches
Adult Learning
What is Adult Learning?
Adult learning refers to the principles and practices that guide how adults acquire knowledge, skills, and behaviours. It recognises that adults learn differently from children, relying on relevance, experience, autonomy, and readiness to learn.
Why does Adult Learning matter?
Adult learning matters because workplace training must reflect how adults naturally learn. When learning is relevant, problem‑focused, and experience‑based, engagement and performance improve significantly.
What should Adult Learning include?
What organisational or strategic elements are involved in Adult Learning?
Adult learning should connect to real workplace responsibilities and performance expectations. If your organisation needs support embedding adult learning principles, Emergent Learning can help align learning design to actual capability needs.
What analytical processes or methodologies are involved in Adult Learning?
It includes learner needs analysis, capability mapping, experiential task review, and assessment of prior knowledge. Emergent Learning assists organisations by identifying how adult learners apply previous experience during training.
What implementation or resource considerations are involved in Adult Learning?
Implementation requires practical activities, scenario‑based design, opportunities for reflection, and flexible learning pathways. Emergent Learning can support the build of learning activities grounded in real‑world tasks.
What results or outcomes does Adult Learning produce?
Effective adult learning results in better capability application, stronger confidence, improved problem‑solving, and more consistent performance in the workplace.
What partnership or support elements are required?
Partnerships with SMEs, managers, and learners ensure training reflects real‑life tasks. Emergent Learning collaborates with organisations to build practical adult‑centred learning experiences.
What cost or investment factors influence decisions about Adult Learning?
Partnerships with SMEs, managers, and learners ensure training reflects real‑life tasks. Emergent Learning collaborates with organisations to build practical adult‑centred learning experiences.
What does an effective Adult Learning process look like?
What needs to happen first?
The process begins with identifying learner backgrounds, existing capability, and workplace tasks. Adults need to understand why they are learning and how it connects to real‑world outcomes.
What happens next?
Content and activities are designed around relevance, autonomy, experience, and immediate application. Emergent Learning can design scenario‑based and practice‑focused learning aligned to adult principles.
How does the process progress over time?
Adult learning strengthens through practice, feedback, and real‑task application. Regular reinforcement and reflection ensure deeper capability development.
What does the end state look like?
A mature adult‑learning program leads to improved confidence, enhanced workplace capability, and learners taking ownership of their development.
How can organisations improve their approach to Adult Learning?
How can we create clearer pathways for Adult Learning?
Clarify skill expectations, outcomes, and progression steps so adults understand the purpose and direction of their learning.
How do we make Adult Learning relevant across roles?
Use role‑specific examples and real‑world tasks so adults see immediate relevance.
How can we deliver Adult Learning consistently?
Create reusable templates, scenarios, and standards that reflect adult‑learning principles. Emergent Learning can help teams apply these consistently.
How do we measure whether Adult Learning is effective?
Measure improvements in real‑world performance, confidence, and on‑the‑job behaviour—not just completion rates.
How does Adult Learning apply in real organisations?
Leaders engage in reflection‑based leadership modules.
Technical staff participate in problem‑solving simulations.
New hires complete scenario‑based onboarding.
Teams build capability through hands‑on, application‑first learning.