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Trends in Adult Education

 Hello!  

In this blog post, I will talk about the article Top 10 Learning Trends in 2024 to Focus on While Upskilling by Sneha Chugh, published on the website https://emeritus.org.

In this article, the author discusses learning trends for 2024 by focusing on what employees and professionals can expect in the future. Some of the ten trends they talk about are digital learning, equity and inclusion, gamification learning, and the trend I will talk about here - soft skills.



According to this article, soft skills will "remain one of the most significant"  learning trends. The same article shares the findings of The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 "that because of the changing demands of the workforce, organizations focus more on soft skills such as analytical thinking, creativity, leadership, and attention to detail when they look for new recruits. " That being said if the companies require more employees with these skills, we as adult instructors should provide better practice and learning of these skills in our classes.

As this quote in the image above says (which, by the way, I first encountered in Brene Brown's book Dare to Lead), in the future, jobs will be about the heart 💖

Now, what does that mean?

I believe it means that it will be even more important for us to know how to master effective communication, conflict resolution, active listening, giving and receiving feedback, and cultivating empathy, among other crucial skills. (Indeed Editorial Team, 2023)

We as adult instructors, can effectively teach these skills by demonstrating them in class and being role models. 


So, let's consider a scenario where a student receives an F 😣. In this case, our responsibility (well, my responsibility) would be to inform the student about this grade and then discuss the next steps.

For example, I can schedule a one-on-one meeting with the student to discuss the difficulties they had about the material. I should express empathy by becoming familiar with their life circumstances – are they working multiple jobs, caring for a young baby or elderly family member, or have there been recent significant events in their immediate family?

Of course, all of this if I have enough time and energy, since teacher burnout is a real thing! Additionally, by making sure that I don't cross the boundaries and involve myself too much, and of course, if the student is willing to share.

Moving on to the next step – I should actively listen and provide effective feedback. I should acknowledge any positive trends in their learning or correctly solved problems before addressing the incorrect answers, wrapping up the conversation in a positive tone.

Next, clearly communicate my expectations once again and, finally depending on the class agreement, maybe provide a date for an optional retake.



This particular situation provides a chance for us to showcase our soft skills effectively. However, to ensure these skills are in top shape, we should invest our time in improving them. We could enroll in workshops, seminars, or stay updated by reading and following the latest research and advice from reputable professionals in the field. Last but not least at all, since good advice has helped me a lot in tough situations, I would say that we should not underestimate the guidance and pieces of advice offered by our experienced colleagues.



To sum up, it is predicted that the future will require workers to have stronger soft skills, and for us, the adult instructors, that means that we should create a positive and supportive learning environment where our students (future workers) can experience the importance of soft skills like effective communication, conflict resolution, giving and receiving feedback, active listening, and empathy.

Thank you for reading this.

I hope we all manage to communicate better ✨💫🤞💫✨


Chugh, S. (2023, December 1). The Top 10 Learning Trends 2024 to Advance Your Career in. Emeritus Online Courses. https://emeritus.org/blog/learning-trends-2024/

Indeed Editorial Team. (2023, March 20). Communication Skills: Definitions and Examples. Indeed Career Guide. https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/communication-skills 

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