One of the reasons I entered the Security Training field is because I have a passion for Student-Focused instruction; and I’ve seen far too many security courses that are using outdated ideas about how people – and specifically, how adults learn. For example, many people are familiar with the traditional “learning styles” – Audio, Visual, and Kinesthetic (learning through motion). And a lot of course material is built with these ideas in mind. In fact, a more recent evidence-based, hybrid model of learning is a better reflection of how students learn. To effectively teach a student, the materials and educational experience must speak to core aspects of their “learning personality”. A student’s learning personality is made up of the following, and is unique as a result of the specific mix of these elements a given student has in his or her personality makeup:
- Sensation Seeking drive – basic interest and curiosity about a topic
- Goal Oriented Achievement – seeking to reach specific measures of mastery
- Deep Learning Achievement – seeking to reach a personally-satisfying and complete understanding of a topic
- Conscientious Achievement – planning to achieve specific outcomes
- Emotionally Intelligent Achievement – rational and logical thinking and synthesis about a topic: the gateway to functional learning
I believe in a student-focused learning system that is designed to spark the Sensation Seeking traits of students, and then build a path to Emotionally Intelligent Achievement so that every student can achieve functional learning of the ideas, concepts, and skills their organization needs. So, how can you positively affect and influence your employees? Get to know them. Figure out how they learn and, more importantly, what types of information they seem to hold on to. If you can successfully connect with their specific learning patterns, you are more likely to present them with data that will stick.
