There are number of adult continuing education courses and programs as well as sector or profession-specific courses that must be undertaken to maintain a position or professional license. This sector of education has often not been the focus of mainstream academics or researchers, yet it is proving to be as important as the other levels and types of education and vital for the update of skills and knowledge in the labor market. The speed at which technology changes necessitates the continued and ongoing development of staff and this will require adult or continued education of those who are already in the job.
Adult learners is a sector that must also be included in the discussions around the use of technology, systems and processes that are developed for mainstream higher and college education. There are a few basics that can be done to move adult continuing education into the future and ensure the use of current scientific ethos and systems to build continued education.
Use the right tech
It is vital to ensure that the right tech is used for continued education. In doing so, it will be possible to include technology training and use such tech as part of the overall training, which will go a long way to increasing the overall skills level of all the staff involved. Technology allows enhanced engagement with learners, promotes flexibility to ensure the product is adapting to the learners needs, and ensure both learners and education providers are connected to the latest resources. The right tech can also help learners to study wherever they are and whenever they have the time.
Pitch training at the right level for a specific pre-defined outcome
All continuing education or adult further education must have a very clearly defined practical and expected outcome. Adult learning is vastly different from learning in children and needs to be targeted to this specific sector. Adults are able to bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, learned perspectives and skills to any continuing education context and this needs to be harnessed to ensure they become opportunities rather than barriers.
Delivery must be human-centered
The scientific assessment of training is that it is best implemented from a humanist perspective with the primary outcome being the development of the individual.
A great example of courses where data is used to develop and assist the learners as well as a clear outcome for the training are set from the outset are the Arkansas continuing education real estate courses. These are geared to ensure accreditation with state bodies, but also serve to keep adult learners at the forefront of the profession.
There are a number of themes for adult continuing education as well as a number of means that these courses are presented. The main aim for modern courses must be to ensure the use of science and technology to add value to such courses.
Studying for those who have been away from the classroom or computer for a while is a hard thing to do. So, to make these courses more appropriate, the use of big data on previous students, a scientific approach to learning at different ages and an overall understanding of the adult learner are vital for the success of any training and development.
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