When designing adult learning, I consider 3 principles to be very important:

• Autonomy
• The Constructivist theory of learning
  
• Learning Styles

How does this impact how we design and develop e-learning courses?

• Making courses with a non-linear path to achieving the learning objectives.  This is consistent with the concept of autonomy.  If we believe adults are responsible for determining how they learn and the way they learn, then the way we design courses should give them that autonomy.  Therefore when developing courses using e-learning software like Captivate, embedded in the course interface, should be a menu of topics that allow adults to decide the path they should take in learning.  The menu should be designed in such a manner that allows the adult trainee to select which topic to explore first.  Adults should have the choice of which topic they choose to learn first and in what order, without being forced into a linear and sequential path.  Although some course material builds on prior lessons, designers must take into consideration that some learners may be accessing the training with that prior knowledge of the material or may be just taking a refresher course.  Andragogy as opposed to pedagogy, provides adults with more autonomy in the way they learn.

• Autonomy of the learner can be reflected in courses developed in Captivate by using more branching paths that are optional and not forced.  Convenient use of hyperlinks and mouseover information is another way of providing autonomy for adults who like to explore topics in depth.  The constructivist theory of learning approaches education differently in that each person is responsible for constructing their own learning.  The teachers/trainers are merely facilitators and not providers of learning.  After all, no one knows best how you learn, but you.  The constructivist approach to learning allows adults the flexibility to determine how they learn, the pace they learn and what they learn based on their learning styles, preferences and prior knowledge.  

• Modern trends among social networking sites where many people thrive, are designed with a constructivist approach to knowledge sharing and learning.  Sites like Myspace, Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn, Second Life, etc. are all designed to allow the user to construct their own experience, decide what they will learn, what they will blog, what they will share and for each person the experience is authentically theirs, and so is the learning at these sites.  I believe that the constructivist approach to instructional design and e-learning development is consistent with our modern trends.
  

A Reusable Learning Object I designed to illustrate and teach the basics of the instructional design process following the A.D.D.I.E. model.

I also used text-to-speech (TTS) technology to provide the narration.