ADULT LEARNING THEORY

Adult Learning Theory

Adult Learning Theory

Introduction

Part of being a productive teacher involves understanding how adults discover best. Andragogy (adult learning) is a idea that holds a set of assumptions about how adults learn. Andragogy emphasizes the worth of the process of learning. It uses approaches to discovering that are problem-based and collaborative other than didactic, and also emphasises more equality between the educator and learner.(Rogers,2004)

Andragogy as a study of mature individual discovering began in Europe in 1950's and was then pioneered as a idea and form of mature individual discovering from the 1970's by Malcolm Knowles an American practitioner and theorist of mature individual learning, who characterized andragogy as "the art and science of assisting adults learn".(Yelloly,2002,21)

Discussion

According to Rogers, most distance learning students are adults between the ages of 25 and 50. In alignment to competently design courses intended for mature individual students, it is necessary to understand how adults discover, and especially how their needs disagree from those of children. Most present theories of mature individual discovering are based on the work of Malcolm Knowles, who presented the period andragogy to describe the art and science of assisting adults to learn. Knowles theorized that adult's learners have distinct and exclusive characteristics. (Rogers, 2004)

Brookfield has contended that chronological age is less characterizing than are the variables of ethnicity, personality and political character. Certainly the area of mature individual discovering idea warrants farther scholarly research, to either perfect or disprove Knowles' theory. Sound instructional design in distance learning will count on a clear understanding of the affects mature individual learning. What manage you signify by 'adult discovering principles'?

Knowles recognized the six theories of mature individual discovering delineated below.

Adults are internally inspired and self-directed

Adults convey life experiences and information to discovering experiences

Adults are aim oriented

Adults are relevancy oriented

Adults are practical

Adult learners like to be respected

1. Adults are internally inspired and self-directed

Adult learners resist discovering when they seem others are imposing data, ideas or actions on them .Your function is to help a students' action in the direction of more self-directed and responsible discovering as well as to foster the student's interior motivation to learn.(Yelloly,2002)

As clinical teacher you can:

Set up a graded discovering program that moves from more to less structure, from less to more responsibility and from more to less direct supervision, at a befitting stride that is demanding yet not overloading for the student.

Develop rapport with the student to optimize your approachability and boost asking of questions and investigation of concepts.

Show interest in the student's thoughts and opinions. Actively and mindfully listen to any questions asked.

Lead the student in the direction of inquiry before supplying them with too numerous facts.

Review goals and acknowledge aim completion

Encourage use of resources such as library, journals, internet and other department resources.

Set projects or tasks for the student that reflects their interests and which they must entire and "tick off" over the course of the placement. For example: to supply an in-service on theme of choice; to present a case-study based on one of their ...