National Caregiver Training Program Incorporates Key Adult Learning Theory and Design Fundamentals

The National Caregiver Training Program has been utilized successfully by hundreds of organizations to provide standardized training for family caregivers, volunteers, personal care aides, and other care providers.

Agencies repeatedly tell us how easy the program is to teach, and how easy it is for caregivers to learn from. National Caregiver Training Program is easy to teach and learn from because we incorporated key adult learning theory and design fundamentals into its design.

According to adult learning theory research, adults remember:

10% of what they read
20% of what they hear
30% of what they see
50% of what they see and hear
70% of what is repeated
90% of what is repeated and performed

Adults learn best through a combination of learning strategies including auditory, visual, tactile and participatory. Adults prefer active involvement in learning as opposed to passive listening.

That’s why the National Caregiver Training Program employs a variety of learning modalities, including lecture, DVD/video, instructor demonstration, hands-on training, group discussion and reading.

Adults are goal-oriented. How-to information is a primary motivation for adult learning. Adults appreciate education that is organized with clearly defined elements.

The National Caregiver Training Program uses a straightforward, logically organized how-to approach to teaching essential care skills, with opportunities for participants to practice care skills and learn the basic principles behind them.

Adults are self-directed learners. Studies of self-directed learners involve an average of 10 other people as peers, mentors and guides.

The National Caregiver Training Program class size is 10 students. The class naturally becomes a support group for family caregivers.

References:

There’s More to Teaching than Talking: Adult Learning Theory and Design Fundamentals, Vicki L. Schmall, Ph.D., Gerontology and Training Specialist

Arizona Department of Health Services, Stephen Lieb, Senior Technical Writer