6 Adult Learning Principles Worksheet.pdf
Early Intervention Adult Learning Principles and Strategies
Infographic: 6 Early Intervention Adult Learning Principles
Adapted from Pause and Reflect (Childress, 2021)
| El Adult Learning Principles (Childress, 2021; Trivette et al. 2009) | Balanced Intervention Strategies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| #1-Parents learn best when what is being learned is immediately relevant and useful to them. | Ask about what the caregiver wants the child to be able to do (relevancy) Explore what the parent already knows and is doing first (prior knowledge) Build on caregiver-child interactions | |
| #2-Parents learn best when new knowledge is built on prior knowledge and experience. | Be specific when suggesting a strategy by explaining what and why Let the parent decide which strategy to try Use descriptive language when explaining how the strategy could be used | |
| #3-Parents learn best when they understand what they are learning, why it is important, and how to use it. | Explore natural learning opportunities together by discussing what typically happens and what could be adjusted (active participation) Make space for or facilitate parent-child interaction (practice) Ask if you can observe (context and real-time) Keep your focus on 1-2 skills | |
| #4-Parents learn best through actively participating and practicing what they are learning. | Explore natural learning opportunities together by discussing what typically happens and what could be adjusted (active participation) Make space for or facilitate parent-child interaction (practice) Ask if you can observe (context and real-time) Keep your focus on 1-2 skills | |
| #5-Parents learn and remember best when what they are learning is practiced in context and in real time. | ||
| #6-Parents learn and remember best when they have opportunities to reflect and receive feedback on their learning and performance. | Ask open-ended questions to facilitate reflection Provide specific feedback Link what you observe with the parent's priorities Plan for between visits (relevancy, active participation) |
Resources to Keep On Learning:
- Book: Pause and Reflect: Your Guide to a Deeper Understanding of Early Intervention Practice (Childress, 2021)
- Free Online Module: Supporting Caregiver Learning during Early Intervention Visits (VEIPD eLearning Center, in the Responsibilities of EI Practitioners course)
- Resource Page: Adult Learning and Early Intervention (VEIPD)
- Article: 8 Concepts from Adult Learning that You Can Use to Support Caregivers (TaCTICS, Florida State Univ.)
- Blog: Early Intervention Strategies for Success (VEIPD, search for “adult learning”)