Step 1: Welcoming and Registering New Learners
The “Learner Intake” process is one of the most important steps in supporting new adult learners. This will be the learner’s first impression of your organization and will be the first step to building a trusting relationship. This is also the first step in data collection, which will help give you insights and information to use as a reference or starting point for future evaluation.
When learners come into your CALP for the first time, it is important that they feel comfortable. Creating a warm and welcoming environment and taking things slow will allow the learner to feel comfortable and give you the time to truly understand what the learner's goals are. Remember that for some adult learners, anything that feels overly formal – sometimes just filling out a form – can make them feel uncomfortable, and that can be a barrier.
Tips:
- Create comfort right from the very beginning
- Build rapport with learners, and allow time to build trust so you can begin to learn about the learner’s goals, readiness to learn, barriers to learning and their skills and strengths
- Have a variety of strategies in your toolbox to gather the intake information you will need
- Example: If the learner seems reluctant to fill out an intake form, or if you are aware that they may have challenges with reading or writing, be prepared to collect the information through an informal interview or conversational format
- Provide information about your programs in plain language up front, so learners know what to expect and can decide if the program is what they want.
- You could also provide a package of information about community and program resources that are available in case the learner needs extra help. Include: who does what, where the service is located, contact information and the cost. Be sure printed information is in plain language and is easy to navigate.
- Remember, you don't have to gather every piece of data about a learner at your first meeting! As you build trust and rapport with a learner, you may learn new or different information about them, their background, their challenges and their goals.
Resources:
Download the Customizable Template