Seeing adult learners – characteristics and challenges
Thursday 22 October 2026 | 11:00am AEST | Presented by Michelle Charlton
Get a refreshed perspective on the adults in your classroom!
As educators in the VET sector, we need to be forever mindful of who our learners are. Adult learners have typically made a conscious choice to be in the learning environment, bringing life experiences, current circumstances, and a desire for practical, relevant learning. But how often do we really 'see' them?
The wealth of experience adult learners bring to the classroom can:
- Enhance discussions and peer learning
- Provide relevant examples and context
- Influence motivation and engagement
However, prior experience and learning can also:
- Create resistance to new ideas or approaches
- Lead to assumptions about the learning content
- Affect self-confidence and anxiety levels
This session shares a refresher on the unique challenges and motivations of adult learners and how to pitch your content so it meets the least resistance from students.
It explores the concepts of andragogy, its assumptions as a process model, and the educator’s role in this type of approach.
The session will also cover the differences between pedagogy and andragogy and introduce a level beyond both on the learning continuum.
This session shines a light on the characteristics of adult learners and shares strategies to tap into their experiences, motivations, and challenges to boost engagement and outcomes.
Leave with practical strategies to identify the characteristics and challenges for your learners and take the opportunity to reflect on the role you play in delivering learning in a changing world with changing needs.
