Learner insight
Learner insight (from research & pilots)
Across contexts, disadvantaged adult learners often:
- Balance work, family, and study
- Return to learning with low confidence
- Prefer short, practical, relevant learning
- Struggle with digital access or skills
- Value flexibility — but still need support
Use this as a starting point — not a substitute for your own evidence
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
1. Designing for “everyone”
→ Instead: define a specific learner group
2. Listing too many barriers
→ Instead: prioritise the 2–3 that matter most
3. Assuming motivation
→ Instead: identify the real problem learners want solved
4. Ignoring delivery constraints
→ Instead: consider access, time, and format early
5. Treating learners as limited
→ Instead: design for capability and growth