Use K-12 Educational Strategies to Improve Adult Learner Engagement

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By Angeline Evans & Mason Scuderi

At d’Vinci, we have the privilege of designing learning solutions for both K-12 and adult audiences. Through our work, we’ve noticed that while the goals of these audiences may differ, the underlying principles of effective learning remain strikingly similar. K-12 clients often prioritize creating engaging, fun, and immersive experiences, while adult training clients focus on getting audiences up to speed, closing performance gaps, or ensuring compliance. Despite these differing priorities, both groups ultimately seek to facilitate meaningful learning. This common goal underscores the importance of engagement—whether you’re teaching a child or an adult.

In this article, we’ll explore the similarities between K-12 and adult learners and show how K-12 engagement techniques can be effectively applied to adult training environments. By leveraging techniques such as sensory stimulation, personalization, storytelling, and games, we can enhance adult learning experiences by appealing to the child in every adult learner and ensure that learners are not just hearing but truly retaining and applying what they learn.

Techniques That Work Across Ages

1. Sensory Stimulation

Sensory stimulation is a powerful tool in keeping learners engaged, regardless of age. For K-12 students, this might involve interactive elements like fidget tools, which stimulate touch, sight, and sound. These tools help maintain focus and prevent distractions. At d’Vinci, we use these tools in our brainstorming sessions and recommend them for in-person training settings. By engaging multiple senses, fidget tools can boost cognitive function and reduce stress, which in turn enhances learners' ability to concentrate and absorb information.

Incorporating interactive elements into training sessions—such as touchpoints and knowledge checks in eLearning modules or engaging visuals and infographics in presentations—can help maintain focus and improve information retention. By catering to different sensory preferences, we create a more inclusive learning environment that supports diverse learning styles.

2. Personalization

Personalization is another key technique that can bridge the gap between K-12 and adult learning. For K-12 students, personalization often involves tailoring content to individual preferences or allowing students to choose how they engage with the material. An example from our work with Sandy Hook Promise demonstrates this approach. In their "Start with Hello" curriculum, students choose their own "hello" style, which carries throughout the program. This not only makes the content more relevant but also honors each student’s unique identity.

In adult training, personalization takes on a different form. For instance, in a project with Constellation Brands, we developed a training program for category managers and space planners with varying levels of experience. We segmented the content into beginner, intermediate, advanced, and power user levels, and included elective components for additional responsibilities. By allowing learners to assess their own skills and choose where to start, we ensured that each participant could engage with the content at their appropriate level. This approach not only made the training more relevant but also respected the learners’ existing knowledge and experience.

3. Storytelling

Storytelling is a technique that resonates across age groups and can be a powerful tool in both K-12 and adult learning environments. For younger audiences, storytelling can take the form of digital comics or animated narratives. For example, "The STEM Sagas," a 30-page digital comic book we created in partnership with SAE International, introduces complex topics like cybersecurity and digital citizenship through engaging characters and plotlines. This method helps make abstract concepts more accessible and memorable for K-12 students.

For adult learners, storytelling can be employed through scenario-based learning or real-life case studies. In adult training, scenarios allow learners to engage with realistic situations and see the consequences of their decisions. We recently took this approach to provide implicit bias and bystander training to legal professionals. Learners are presented with four compelling video scenarios and prompted to participate in anonymous polls and group discussion after each video is played. This approach not only makes the learning experience more engaging but also provides practical insights that can be directly applied to their professional roles. Additionally, firsthand accounts from industry experts or leaders can offer valuable perspectives and enhance the relevance of the training material.

4. Games

Games are not just for kids—they are a powerful engagement tool for learners of all ages. Games provide experiential, problem-focused, and risk-free practice. They can turn learning into a dynamic and interactive experience. The concept of gamification is often associated with points and badges, but the true value of games lies in their ability to create immersive learning environments.

In K-12 education, games can take various forms, from educational apps to interactive simulations. For adult learners, games can be integrated into training sessions as problem-solving exercises or collaborative challenges with variable outcomes and high replay value. Whether it’s a competitive simulation or a cooperative team-building activity, incorporating game elements into training can increase engagement and motivation.

Lessons from Favorite Teachers

Think back to your favorite teachers. What made them memorable? Many of us recall teachers who made us feel seen and valued, who connected lessons to our lives, and who challenged us while showing genuine care. These traits are essential for effective teaching and can be applied to adult learning as well.
Favorite teachers often:

• Made us feel seen and appreciated our unique contributions.
• Connected lessons to our everyday experiences, making them relevant and worthwhile.
• Tailored assignments or activities to our preferences and learning styles.
• Challenged us to reach new levels of understanding and skill.

These same principles can be applied to adult training. By acknowledging learners’ individual needs, connecting content to real-world applications, and providing appropriate challenges, we can create more engaging and impactful learning experiences.

Conclusion

At d’Vinci, we recognize that effective learning solutions must engage and motivate learners, regardless of their age. 

Malcolm Knowles’ adult learning theory emphasizes that adults are self-directed, motivated by intrinsic factors, and interested in problem-solving. The techniques that engaged us as children—personalization, storytelling, and interactive elements—are also effective for adult learners. By incorporating these methods into adult training, we can create more engaging and meaningful learning experiences.

As we continue to innovate and inspire in our approach to learning, let’s remember that we are all lifelong learners. By embracing the techniques that engage us, we can create training solutions that make a lasting impact and foster a culture of continuous learning.