🧠How Adult Learning Principles Transform Association Education
Associations Should Design for Impact!
At this year’s Meetings & Education Summit, MSAE President & CEO Donna Oser, CAE shared powerful, research-based strategies to help association professionals deliver education that doesn’t just inform—but inspires action.
Drawing from the core principles of adult learning, the session offered practical ways to make learning experiences more relevant, engaging, and applicable for members.
Six Ways to Boost Learning Impact
Attendees explored six actionable tips to immediately enhance program design:
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Design for Application – Build sessions around real-world problems and send participants home with tools they can use right away.
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Involve Participants as Co-Creators – Tap into the expertise in the room through peer sharing, roundtables, and collaborative activities.
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Offer Flexible Formats – Use a mix of session types and let attendees customize their learning journey.
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Coach Presenters – Equip subject matter experts with clear expectations and support to keep audiences engaged. Oser shared a sample tip sheet with participants.
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Consider the Environment – Room setup, lighting, and even food can influence participant energy and focus.
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Build in Time for Reflection & Action – Give learners space to process ideas and plan next steps.
Why It Matters
Adult learners thrive when content is practical, interactive, and tailored to their needs. By applying these principles, planners can ensure their events drive deeper engagement, better retention, and measurable value for members.
This session exemplifies what the Meetings & Education Summit is all about—actionable insights from experienced leaders that elevate the effectiveness and impact of association education.
Did you attend the Meetings & Education Summit? If so, log into msae.org and access handouts here.