The Science Behind Nurtured Nest: How Adult Learning Theory Powers Our Online Childbirth Education
Time to read 5 min
When you're preparing for the life-changing experience of childbirth, how you learn matters just as much as what you learn. At Nurtured Nest, our online childbirth education isn’t just convenient—it’s carefully designed to align with adult learning research. If you’re wondering how to prepare for childbirth, our method supports real learning that sticks.
- Adult Learning Theory: The Foundation of Our Approach
- Why Pre-Recorded Videos Enhance Your Learning Experience
- Depth of Content: The Adult Learning Advantage
- The Evidence Behind Our Method
- Why Nurtured Nest is the Best Online Childbirth Class for Real-Life Parents
- Conclusion: Learning That Respects Your Adulthood
In just one minute, this video explains how we use principles of adult learning theory to make our courses engaging, practical, and easy to remember—so you can actually use what you learn when it matters most.
Adult Learning Theory: The Foundation of Our Approach
In the 1970s and 80s, educational researcher Malcolm Knowles revolutionized adult education by developing a theory called "andragogy" (as opposed to "pedagogy" used for children). Knowles recognized that adults learn differently than children, and these differences fundamentally change how education should be structured for grown learners ( Knowles, 1984 ).
According to Knowles, effective adult learning environments should honor five key principles ( Instructional Design Australia, 2025 ):
Self-Directed Learning
The principle: Adults prefer to take ownership of their learning journey and direct their own educational process.
At Nurtured Nest: Our self-paced format puts you in control. You decide when to learn, which topics matter most, and how deeply to explore each one—making our self-paced birth course ideal for busy schedules and different learning styles.
Experience as a Learning Foundation
The principle: Adults bring rich life experience to any new learning situation and learn best when they can connect new information to existing knowledge.
At Nurtured Nest: Our courses acknowledge your existing understanding and life experiences. We encourage reflection and provide space for you to connect what you're learning with what you already know, creating more meaningful and lasting learning.
Relevance and Problem-Centered Learning
The principle: Adults are motivated to learn when content directly applies to real-life situations they anticipate facing.
At Nurtured Nest: Every aspect of our curriculum focuses on practical application. From labor techniques to postpartum recovery, our virtual birth course is built around the real-world challenges expecting parents face—helping you feel prepared for birth and beyond.
Readiness to Learn
The principle: Adults become ready to learn when they need specific knowledge to cope effectively with real-life situations.
At Nurtured Nest: Pregnancy creates natural readiness for learning about birth and baby care. Our content is organized to match this readiness, providing information when you're most motivated to absorb it.
Internal Motivation
The principle: While external factors matter, adults are primarily driven by internal motivators like increased confidence, self-esteem, and quality of life.
At Nurtured Nest: We emphasize how knowledge empowers you to make informed choices and increases your confidence throughout the birth process—addressing the deeper motivations that brought you to birth education in the first place.
Why Pre-Recorded Videos Enhance Your Learning Experience
Some people assume live classes are automatically better than pre-recorded content. Recent research on adult learning shows this isn't necessarily true. Here's why our deliberately crafted pre-recorded approach actually enhances your learning experience:
Clear, Structured Content Increases Comprehension
The scripted, teleprompter-guided nature of our videos isn't a limitation—it's an advantage based on research-proven teaching methods. When instructors prepare and organize content methodically:
Complex concepts are presented more clearly and systematically
Key information is emphasized consistently
Learning flows in a logical progression that builds understanding
Research published in 2025 found that well-structured online courses with clear organization help adult learners stay engaged and achieve better learning outcomes, particularly when dealing with complex or technical information ( CloudAssess, 2025 ).
Control Over Pace Improves Retention
According to research on self-directed learning in online environments, self-paced video content allows learners to:
Pause to process challenging concepts
Rewatch sections that need reinforcement
Skip ahead when content is already familiar
Learn during their peak cognitive performance times
This personalized pacing isn't possible in live classes, where the instructor must move at a pace that attempts to accommodate everyone—inevitably too fast for some and too slow for others ( LearnUpon, 2022 ).
Reduced Cognitive Load
Live classes require dividing your attention between:
Listening to the instructor
Taking notes
Formulating questions
Navigating social dynamics
Staying focused despite potential distractions
Our pre-recorded format allows you to focus entirely on absorbing the content, reducing cognitive load and improving information retention. You can take notes at your own pace without missing anything, and revisit complex topics as needed.
Depth of Content: The Adult Learning Advantage
Our comprehensive courses contain more in-depth information than most in-person classes can provide in their limited timeframes. This approach aligns perfectly with another principle of adult learning theory: adults benefit from both breadth and depth in educational content ( Western Governors University, 2024 ).
Research shows that adult learners appreciate having access to comprehensive information, even when they don't need to master every detail. According to adult learning experts, having access to in-depth resources creates:A sense of confidence that complete information is available
The ability to explore topics of particular interest or concern
Recognition that different learners have different needs & interests ( Whatfix, 2024 )
Our courses aren't designed with the expectation that everyone will complete every module or video—they're designed to provide the right information when and if you need it. This personalized approach respects your autonomy as an adult learner while ensuring comprehensive support.
The Evidence Behind Our Method Recent research on adult learning in online environments strongly supports our approach:
A 2025 mixed-methods study found that adult learners who feel they can direct their own progress and find personal meaning in course material are much more likely to persist and succeed in online courses ( Springer Link, 2025 ).
Research on adult learning and mental well-being emphasizes that self-paced online learning supports mental health by reducing external pressures and allowing learners to manage their time and emotional energy—particularly important during the emotionally vulnerable time of pregnancy and early parenthood ( Research.com, 2025 ).
Studies consistently show that adult learners retain information better when they can connect it to immediate real-world application and access it at the moment of need—exactly what our format provides ( eLearning Industry, 2024 ).
Adults are motivated to learn as they experience needs and interests that learning will satisfy.”
Why Nurtured Nest is the Best Online Childbirth Class for Real-Life Parents
Expecting parents today need flexibility without sacrificing quality. Nurtured Nest’s evidence-based, online childbirth class is trusted by healthcare providers and real families alike. Whether you're a first-time parent or growing your family, our prenatal education supports you from bump to baby.
Conclusion: Learning That Respects Your Adulthood
At Nurtured Nest, our educational approach isn't just about convenience—it's about effectiveness. By aligning our courses with the established principles of adult learning theory, we've created an experience that respects your intelligence, autonomy, and unique learning needs.
The pre-recorded, structured nature of our content isn't a limitation—it's a scientifically-supported approach to help you learn more effectively and confidently during this important life transition. When you choose Nurtured Nest, you're not just choosing convenient education—you're choosing education designed specifically for how adults learn best.
Ready to experience education designed around your learning needs? Explore our Online Childbirth & Postpartum Class and discover the difference that thoughtful, adult-centered learning makes.
Create By The Nurtured Nest Team
Nurtured Nest’s content is developed by parenting educators, healthcare professionals, and real parents—so it’s always grounded in evidence and real-life experience. Learn more about our team.
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