How to Inspire Learning Across the Generations   It's a known fact: not everyone learns the same way. We all have our preferences for how we like to learn new things. Then why do we insist on teaching or delivering training to everybody using the same approach? Because it's easy and less challenging. Effective? Definitely not.   A less daunting approach to facilitate students' learning preferences is to find commonalities. When we look for what is universal among individuals, we can start to think about deliberate approaches to creating a transferable learning environment.   Whether you lead a classroom at a corporate office or local community college, your students are probably from two to three, or maybe even four different generations. We propose capitalizing on this opportunity to incorporate the perspective of various age groups in your class experience.   Here are six things you can do to inspire learning across the generations.   1. Know your audience  Let's say your class consists of learners who range in age from 18 to 81. You mention group work and half your students roll their eyes.   It's important to know your audience because there are many different ways to deliver information, and you need to know what method works best with which audience. Ask yourself, "Is this the generation that likes to work collaboratively or would they prefer to fly solo?" Or "Is there more than one way to get the same results?" While one group may think that group work is the way to go, consider offering participants the choice of working independently or in groups, especially if the range of learners spans a many generations.   2. Increase learning opportunities exponentially  As educators, we often have to deliver a huge amount of information in a limited amount of time. We might spend five minutes on introductions before diving right into the materials. What would happen if we allocated more time for participants to get to know one another?   All students come to the classroom with a wealth of knowledge and information from their lifetime of experience. Once they are comfortable sharing their own information, you have multiplied the learning opportunities exponentially.   3. Practice classroom feng shui  When students walk into your room, do they feel like they are back in grammar school? Are the desks arranged like those in Little House on the Prairie, where all eyes face the instructor? This setup creates an environment that isolates participants and limits interactions. If you want to excite, motivate and inspire confidence, then set up your room in a way that encourages creative thinking.   Many room configurations are possible depending on the type of training and learning activities, the level of formality desired, and the number of participants. To encourage interaction, arrange the seats in small clusters of no more than eight or ten people. Five is optimal. Remember, unless your furniture is nailed down, students can help the instructor move the furniture if your lecture or program requires more than one configuration.   4. Give them a break  Did you ever notice how there is a commercial every eight minutes on television? One reason is because people need a rest. Encourage interaction every eight minutes. For example, instead of reading a list of facts, get the group to relay what they already know about the topic, and then add what they didn't include.   Encourage your students to interact with you as well as other participants. Remember, they already come with a lifetime of experience and knowledge.   5. Tap the power of questions  If you've been teaching the same lecture or workshop for years using the same curriculum, is it time for a facelift? Look at your materials and determine if they include powerful questions that stimulate new ways of thinking and possibilities. A few tweaks can refresh the look of your program.   6. Use different methods of delivery  Be willing to work with more than one medium. People learn in different ways. With all the various technologies and media available, it's easy to forget that some people still learn by reading books. At the same time, remember that there is a large audience, which regardless of their age, learn by doing and by hearing. Learn from your students.   Consider taking your show on the road. Team assignments outside of the classroom encourage interaction. Learning by doing is a powerful methodology for all generations.   Those trainers and educators who connect with students from all generations will inspire a lifetime of learning. And in the world of education and training, it doesn't get any better than that!     About Roberta Matuson Roberta Matuson is an expert at creating intergenerational harmony at work. She's President of Human Resource Solutions, a firm that provides consulting and training to resolve intergenerational conflicts and help companies capitalize on the unique generational perspectives of their workforce. She has appeared on FOX's "The O'Reilly Factor" and has been quoted in The New York Times, Boston Globe, and many other national business publications.