Final answer:
The most effective principle in teaching older adults is to start and end the session with key points. This method encourages engagement and respects the learners' experiences, avoiding ageist approaches like speaking slower and louder, and is better than moving at a set pace or longer sessions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle that has been found to be most effective in teaching older adults is beginning and ending each session with important information. This reinforces key points and increases the likelihood that the participants will remember the critical information. It is a strategy supported by adult education methods, which emphasize engagement and critical reflection over rote learning.
Furthermore, this approach addresses adult learners' needs by recognizing the importance of tapping into their experiences and wisdom. It respects them as active participants in their own education. In contrast, maintaining a predetermined pace may not accommodate individual learning speeds, providing information in longer sessions might challenge attention spans, and speaking very slowly and in a louder tone of voice could be seen as patronizing, reflecting ageist attitudes.
The teaching strategies should always be inclusive, compassionate, and tailored to the audience. Remembering that each individual brings a wealth of life experience and knowledge to the conversation is key. Through a respectful and adaptive approach, educational sessions can be highly effective and enriching for older adults.