How to Learn How People Learn

Some people are visual learners, some are audio, some are hands-on learners, some can even learn after reading a book or manual. You’ll learn how people learn and how to determine the easiest way to teach or train them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• People insight and reading skills
• Trainable trainer
• Notepad
• Pen

1. You can obtain the skills necessary for determining how people learn by a few simple techniques. The first place to find clues is their resume and interview. If you were not the person to interview them, look at his/her resume. See what their previous job was, what skills tests they have excelled, and which they need to improve. Take plenty of notes; utilize skills they already have to teach them new ones. For example, if they can type, they can learn to use a ten-key, and vice-versa.
2. If you were not involved in their hiring interview series, plan a meeting or initial training session. Discuss with him/her their skills, what they know, what they have learned, and how they learned it. People may know their best way of learning, if not, you can teach them to find out.
3. Begin to teach them a new task by first giving verbal and written instructions together. If you are telling, and they are seeing at the same time, the instructions are more likely to be duplicated and the task accomplished when they start. If the person has difficulty understanding what he/she is reading, include screen shots and detail in your instructions, perhaps a projected computer monitor so they can follow visually. The person will see what needs to be done, hear the verbal instructions, and see what you are doing to accomplish the task.
4. If he/she cannot do the task from verbal, written, visually detailed instruction, then you must use the hands-on approach. Give the task and let the employee/student accomplish what they can on their own, with all the instruction you have given. Help when they ask, but don’t over power. People under stress do not learn well.
5. Everyone must use what he or she learns in order to know they can accomplish it. Take time during instruction, but not so much to overload, giving the employee/student the power to accomplish the task helps their self-esteem, boosts their morale, and in turn, passes that positive learning experience on to future employees/students.

Tips & Warnings

• Everyone learns differently. Patience as a trainer is a good thing.