Abstract:

Workshops are a common method of training for adults to teach new methods or techniques that are required in order to be successful in their working environment. Specific skills and transferable knowledge for effective goal-oriented training and real world application are commonly the key learning objectives. The task faced by an instructor is ensuring that the workshop is effective in providing an opportunity for the participants to obtain the needed skills and knowledge.

Whether applying Knowles’ experiential learning theory, Brookfield’s critical thinking strategies, Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligence or Fleming’s VARK modalities, merging such teaching strategies as simulations, reality based learning, clicker technology, PowerPoint, role play and case scenarios are key to presenting an effective workshop. The right mixture of teaching strategies allows for adults to problem solve while critically applying the total sum of their experience in a custom designed learning environment based on individual learning and sensory modality preference.

In our conference presentation and paper, we will provide an overview of the characteristics of an adult learner and the relevance of these characteristics to workshop learning. We will present the importance of a critical thinking component in workshop presentations. We will discuss how workshop teaching methods can be tied to the participants’ learning styles in order to achieve the necessary learning for effective workshop outcomes. Finally, this conference presentation and paper will discuss merging various teaching modalities and strategies with today’s technologies in providing an enhanced workshop learning experience.

Keywords:

Teaching strategies, workshop participants, adult learning, critical thinking, experiential learning, teaching modalities.