Individuals working in healthcare are continually updating their knowledge using a variety of methods ranging from reading articles and using reference sources to contributing at meetings or attending training events. People will have preferences for the ways in which they like to keep up to date.

Understanding teaching and learning theories can help in selecting teaching methods that are appropriate for both the group’s preferences and the topic area.

Educationalist Malcolm Knowles considered adults to be independent and self-directed learners. He suggested four principles of adult learning:

• Principle 1: Adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction
• Principle 2: Experience, including mistakes, provides the basis for the learning activities
• Principle 3: Adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance and impact to their job or personal life
• Principle 4: Adult learning is problem-centred rather than content-orientated.

These principles should be the starting point when planning educational sessions in order to make learning sessions interesting and relevant.