How adults use their prior experience to learn

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Adults frequently compare and contrast the content in a self-paced, technology-based course with their prior experiences. These comparisons result in learners feeling

confused because the content is inconsistent with their prior experiences
confident because the content is consistent with their prior experiences
lost because they have no prior experiences with the content.

Prior experiences cause confusion. Sometimes, learners’ prior experiences contradict or are inconsistent with training, which can cause confusion. These contradictions may focus on the content or on the navigation. For example, learners have experience performing a specific procedure covered in training, but the steps are significantly different in the course. Similarly, learners are confused if they’re familiar with the standard Microsoft interface but the interface of the self-paced, technology-based training doesn’t use a similar format or set of conventions.

Prior experiences validate new information. Prior experiences also are a source of confidence. When the new information in the course is consistent with learners’ prior experiences, learners feel a sense of validation and often think, “Yes, that makes sense.” Sometimes, an example or discussion during training answers a question or resolves a problem that learners have struggled with in the past. The result is that learners suddenly feel a sense of confidence because they have answers to their question or resolutions to a problem. It’s a good feeling when you see how new information extends or builds on what you already know.

Lack of prior experiences. If learners have no prior experience with the instructional content, they usually find the course difficult. With no relevant prior experiences, learners lose one of their five learning strategies and may find that their remaining four strategies aren’t as effective.