The Adult

Learner

Free powerpoints at http://www.worldofteaching.com

"The art of teaching is the

art of assisting discovery."

- Mark Van Doren

What is Learning?

Learning involves change.

concerned with the acquisition

of habits, knowledge, and

attitudes.

What is Learning?

It enables the individual

to make both personal

and social adjustments.

What is Learning?

Learning is a change in the

individual, due to the interaction

of that individual, and his

environment, which fills a need

and makes him more capable of

dealing adequately with his

environment.

What is learning?

Learning is a change in

human disposition or

capability, which can be

retained and applied.

Key Assumptions about

Adult Learners:

1. Adults are motivated to

learn as they experience

needs and interests that

learning will satisfy.

Key Assumptions about

Adult Learners:

2. Experience is the richest

source for adults’

learning.

Key Assumptions about

Adult Learners:

3. Adults have a need to

be self-directing.

Dewey’s Key Concepts of

Teaching:

All genuine education comes about through experience.

Democracy/Participation - promotes quality human experience

Dewey’s Key Concepts of

Teaching:

Continuity - builds upon experiences that are worth while

Interaction/Participative- it’s a social process

What Adults Need to Know

Prior to Learning:

how learning will be conducted

what will be learned

why it will be valuable

"Anyone who stops learning

is old, whether at twenty or

eighty. Anyone who keeps

learning

stays young."

- Henry Ford

Breakdown of the

Principals of Adult

Learning

Learning is enhanced

when it can immediately

be applied in a real-life

context.

Learning is enhanced when

adult learners have control

or influence over their

educational experiences.

Learning depends

on past

and current

experiences.

Learning is enhanced

when

people are active

participants.

Learning requires an

environment

of comfort and respect.

Learning is

enhanced

when

self-directed.

Adult learning

is enhanced when

participants

experience success.

KWL

What do we know?

What do we want to know?

What did we learn?

“Show me and I forget; Teach me and I remember;

Involve me and I learn.”

- B. Franklin

Jane Vella’s

12 Principles of

teaching adults

Principle 1

Needs Assessment.

Learners need to

participate in naming,

what is to be learned

Principle 2

Safety

Learners need a safe,

nurturing environment in

which there is trust.

Principle 3

Sound Relationship

Friendship without dependency

Fun without trivialization

Dialogue of peers

Principle 4

Sequencing.

Small to big

Easy to hard

Slow to fast

Principle 5

Action with reflection.

Description / Analysis /

Application / Implementation

Principle 6

Control.

Learners as subjects.

Learners as decision makers.

Principle 7

Feelings / Emotions

Learning through pictures / sound /

opinion / discussion.

Learning through the learners

experiences / beliefs.

Principle 8

Immediacy.

Learning that is practical,

can be used in their

workplace, learning directly

relevant to tomorrow.

Principle 9

Clear Roles.

Clearly defined roles and

who does what in the

learning process.

Principle 10

Teamwork.

A social aspect to the

learning. Adults need to

network, learn by facilitation

with other peers.

Principle 11

Engagement.

Learners are active

participants with an

investment in the learning

beyond the classroom.

Principle 12

Accountability.

Learners expect results.

What was planned for should

be seen/reviewed in an

outcome.

REFERENCES http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/Fac

DevCom/guidebk/teachtip/adults-1.htm

Merriam, S. B. and Caffarella, R. S. (1991) Learning

in Adulthood. A comprehensive guide, San

Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Knowles, Malcolm,(1978), The adult learner : a

neglected species, Houston, Gulf Pub. Co.

Vella, Jane, (1994), Learning to listen, learning to

teach, San Francisco,Jossey-Bass Publishers

http://eflclassroom.ning.com