Five Critical Questions for Teachers of Adults

Planning a lesson for adults without setting clear learning goals is like going on a trip without a direction or outcome. Keep the following six questions in mind. they will help you plan the journey well

What do I/we want the student to learn?

1. Cognitive- what do we want them to know
2. Behavioral- what skill do we want them to perform-
3. Affective- what do we want them to feel

Often we focus upon #1 and overlook the second and third outcome

Why do I/we want them to learn this?

What is the urgency?
What is my/their perceived or felt need?
How will this shape their life both short term and long term?

This gets to the heart of our passion. Why is this lesson so vital to them?

What do we want them to do with this?

Where will this apply in their work, life and/or ministry?
Pass an exam?
Improve their marriage?
Have better relationships with their coworkers?

How long do we want them to remember this?

What realistically can I expect is the "shelf life" of this experience?
For the exam? Or for life?

Although this is admittedly an odd question, it shapes how we teach and plan the lesson. Students emailed me years later to express appreciation for selected statements and long lasting impressions from the classes. How will we measure their grasp of the lesson? The affective and behavioral components are more long-lasting

Short term includes exams and papers
Long term focuses upon how this impacts their ministry and life
Will I measure this or simply leave this with God?

What provisions have been made for various learner levels and styles?

The age and gender of the student impact learning styles
Life experience- which is very important for adult learners- shape how they learn and what they remember. How does this help me now?
Learning mode: visual, experiential, etc.
Previous experience and knowledge
Some adult learners have often sat passively while a teacher speaks. Getting them to engage in dialogue is important. We learn what we say