This spring I decided to learn a new hobby. I surrendered to becoming a student and chose gardening. My life changed when I started my simple 3 pot garden with: grape tomatoes, mint, flowers and rosemary. I watered my little garden first thing every morning and the experience expanded my faith, patience, and interest in cooking. This was great for my personal development; however, the lessons that I want to share are directly related to my work in adult learning and workplace learning.
Here are correlations drawn between gardening and adult learning.
Fact: Adults are internally motivated. I know nothing about gardening but it’s what I wanted to do. I wasn't motivated by winning a local gardening contest. I was driven to try something new I could accomplish and learn life lessons. Outcome: Excitement to learn.
Fact: Adults prefer self-directed learning. I recognized I needed to learn what I can about gardening, in the way I want. I needed simple language, pretty pictures, and short easy reading. I bought magazines about gardening; the images were incredible and the content was short and easy. Outcome: Actively engaging in learning + retaining information.
Fact: Adults are problem-solvers. I had the perfect location for my garden, appropriate daylight, protected from critters, but red clay soil. How am I supposed to grow anything (except weeds) in red clay. My solution was a beautiful raised bed. Of course I couldn't find the 'right one', so I settled on pots. My perfectly picked location was packed with uneven red clay and crabgrass which I still don't understand. Without a level or tape measure I figured it out. Outcome: Motivated and excited to learn how to do something new.
Fact: Adults use life experiences to learn new information and skills. I'm an experienced plant killer and believed I thought hard enough I could figure out my past mistakes and not repeat them in my garden. I used my 4th grade math to measure (using my foot length) the ground. 7th grade science photosynthesis helped me pick the best location. Outcome: Applying old skills to new learning experience to solve new problems.
Fact: Adults want to know 'why'. If at any point in reading you thought "I wonder why she ___" it's because adults want to understand the why. I intentionally left out why I chose gardening because I knew you'd ask. Knowing why helps provide context, which supports adult learning. Outcome: Understanding why improves learning comprehension.
Gardening is an opportunity to experience the full cycle of something. Finding outdoor activities to replace screen time are a calming necessity. Gardening also provides a direct connection to healthy foods. Having context provides a better understanding of how and why I was motivated to learn gardening and apply learned lessons. My garden plants (lovingly referred to as my babies) are thriving!
After reading books and watching videos about gardening, a garden was growing. Every morning with nurturing and pruning there's a surprise – a new bud, flower, or fruit.
As you think about improving adult learner engagement, information retention and skills application integrate the following facts about adult learners into your instructional design and you’ll achieve surprising outcomes:
- Stimulate learner internal motivation
- Encourage learners to learn on their own
- Empower learners to problem solve
- Incorporate audience life experience into their learning
- Provide explanations why often
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