How digital tools support the typical characteristics of adult learners

Life-long learners (aged 20+) partake in purposeful learning activities, whether formal, non-formal or informal, undertaken on an ongoing basis with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competences. Adult learners are self-motivated and self-directed in their learning, driven by personal and professional growth and development.

It is clear that digital technologies are disrupting the role of the educator. Digital competencies and skills need to advance alongside innovations and continuous improvement, given that according to statistic evaluations, almost 90% of future jobs will require digital skills.  It is therefore vitally important that educators implement digital tools in the teaching delivery as a way of ensuring their learners become familiar with new digital platforms and update their own digital skills set for the job market.

According to a recent EU report, there are 61 million under-skilled adults who require support in professional development.  In light of this, it is predicted that significant reskilling will be required by a large share of the staff and employee learning programmes will have to keep up with the evolving technology and social landscape.

Continuously re-thinking and adapting adult education is vital if it is to become more accessible to every individual. Implementing digital tools into lesson and programme delivery may enable adult learners to remain valuable and future proof their skillset as job functions change.

• Technology provides boundless access for learners to connect with others, explore topics of interests and be a part of opportunities and events across the globe.
• Online learning exposes learners to a wide range of resources available online, covering their areas of interests, which they can learn at their own pace, personally.
• Taking charge of your own education like this can be very empowering, and can give learners a sense of self confidence that helps them to do even better.
• Thus, digital tools and technology increases the effectiveness in adult learning.

• It is estimated that 9 million UK adults still struggle to use the internet and their device independently, thus adapting to working from home and interacting / socialising online has left thousands struggling, while exacerbating the digital divide to a digital chasm.
• Digital skills are important because they underpin so much of how modern work is conducted. For many modern professions, digital skills are simply essential skills. UK Government stats from 2019 show that 82% of job openings required digital skills. Therefore, digital skills are relevant to adult learners as they provide necessary and applicable skills necessary to stay relevant in today’s job market, especially in the times of social and economic upheaval that the pandemic has caused.

Adult learners typically return to education with a clear goal in mind e.g. boost skills in a particular area. Therefore, digital tools can aid the goal orientation. It’s obvious that in order to achieve your goals, you will need to set them. However, we tend to forget to that digital tools are particularly useful for goal setting.

There are several kinds of tools for you to use, and when leveraged properly they can be just as impactful as setting a goal and striving to achieve it.

ACTIVITY- Click here to read this useful article on a list of tools that can help you and your learner to set goals and achieve them.

1. Convenience and flexibility. Providing online learning enables adult learners to plan study time around the rest of their day, instead of the other way around. Learners can work at their own convenience, which makes balancing work and family commitments with their education possible.
2. Online or digital learning can offer a more comfortable learning environment. If learners want to grab a cup of tea, kick back in their favourite chair, and settle in for a pleasant hour or two reading the course material and completing assignments. No hard-wooden chairs or tiny desks required!
3. Digital tools allow personalized learning where students can get additional tasks or projects, new tools, ideas, and ways to share information. Participating in online learning will help students to expand their creative capacity and reasoning skills.

We all know that students can learn a lot more from the visual material, so a great way to start changing your teaching approach is with some educational videos. There are many ways in which you can boost not just their motivation for learning through visual and video materials, but also your own motivation for teaching

Motivate Students with Different Apps-Exploring apps that you could use for teaching your subject, will make it a lot easier to transfer your knowledge to your students. Also, motivating them to follow your subjects will be a lot easier if you were to find a cool app that could help you get them interested in your subject, it is an approach that is definitely worth exploring.

ACTIVITY- Click HERE for more Tips!