You have to reach them to teach them: Using adult learning principles to transform educational practice.

Dr. Christa Evangelisto, Dallas College

Dr. Christa Evangelisto, Dallas College


This session explores how applying adult learning principles can radically transform teaching and training practices. Drawing on real classroom experiences, the presenter highlights why traditional, child-centered, lecture-based approaches often fail adult learners. Participants will examine how adults’ prior knowledge, need for relevance, and preference for active, social learning can be leveraged to increase engagement and retention.

The session emphasizes practical strategies for designing learning experiences that foster motivation, critical thinking, and real-world application—shifting the focus from memorization to meaningful learning and lifelong thinking skills.