Step 3: Adult-Centered Implementation
When the Design phase is completed, program planners will have a pretty good idea of what the learning initiative is going to look like, how long it will be, what resources are needed, why the initiative is needed and who will likely benefit from it. The next phase is the Implementation of the learning initiative, during which participants engage in the learning experience, be it in a classroom or other delivery mechanism.
Effective implementation does not address just instructional activities, but also the other services that are required in order to ensure the success and engagement of the individual participants. Assessment activities are important at the start of the program for proper placement of the individual in the learning initiative, and to recognize competencies and knowledge that have already been mastered. Assessment is equally important at the end of the program to ensure that the initiative was successful and that the individual has gained new skills and competencies. Support services are critical for providing guidance to individuals throughout the process and for helping them remove barriers to their success. The instructional activities themselves are important, and so the third set of Implementation components in this report address how the Teaching-Learning Process can draw on the many established lessons of the adult learning field.