# #428: Andragogy in MedTech: Why Adult Learning Principles Beat Traditional Training

- Show: [Global Medical Device Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast)
- Published: 2025-10-13
- Length: 49m
- Episode: 428
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-10-13-428-andragogy-in-medtech-why-adult-learning-principles-beat-traditional-training
- Listen: https://podcast.greenlight.guru/episode/andragogy-in-medtech-why-adult-learning-principles-beat-traditional-training

## Summary

Shannon Decker, CEO of VBC1 and healthcare transformation expert, explains why traditional training methods fail adults in the MedTech industry and advocates for andragogy (adult-centered learning). She contrasts this with pedagogy, emphasizing that adults are self-directed, problem-centered, and rely on existing experience (schema theory). Decker shares case studies on improving physician adoption of medical devices by leveraging intrinsic motivation, tactile practice, and performance feedback rather than extrinsic rewards like money or compliance mandates.

## Chapters

- [0:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-10-13-428-andragogy-in-medtech-why-adult-learning-principles-beat-traditional-training#t=31) Introduction: Shannon Decker and VBC1
- [2:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-10-13-428-andragogy-in-medtech-why-adult-learning-principles-beat-traditional-training#t=154) Defining Andragogy vs. Pedagogy
- [5:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-10-13-428-andragogy-in-medtech-why-adult-learning-principles-beat-traditional-training#t=314) Why Traditional Training Fails Adults
- [6:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-10-13-428-andragogy-in-medtech-why-adult-learning-principles-beat-traditional-training#t=368) Case Study: Improving Physician Adoption
- [17:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-10-13-428-andragogy-in-medtech-why-adult-learning-principles-beat-traditional-training#t=1076) Applying Andragogy to Device Development
- [22:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-10-13-428-andragogy-in-medtech-why-adult-learning-principles-beat-traditional-training#t=1334) Leveraging Intrinsic Motivation and Competition
- [33:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-10-13-428-andragogy-in-medtech-why-adult-learning-principles-beat-traditional-training#t=1992) Cultural Nuances and Learning Modalities

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- VBC1 (company)
- Optum (company)
- Greenlight Guru (company)
- YouTube (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Etienne Nichols | How to Become a MedTech Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-24-etienne-nichols-how-to-become-a-medtech-engineer) (Being an Engineer)
- [107 - Distilling Decades of MedTech Data, Generative AI, and Doing Without Tribal Knowledge with Michelle Wu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-10-25-107-distilling-decades-of-medtech-data-generative-ai-and-doing-without-tribal-kn) (Let's Combinate)
- [019 - "Carrying The Bag" with Omar M Khateeb](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-02-09-019-carrying-the-bag-with-omar-m-khateeb) (Let's Combinate)
- [S2E40 Voice of the Customer, Using Questions, and the Technology Adoption Life Cycle Curve | Ted Newill](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-09-17-s2e40-voice-of-the-customer-using-questions-and-the-technology-adoption-life-cyc) (Being an Engineer)
- [200 - MedTech and Pharma After 200 Episodes…..](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-06-200-medtech-and-pharma-after-200-episodes) (Let's Combinate)

## Citing this page

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