How Adults Learn

 

Key Points:

  • There a number of adult learning theories to guide educators; andragogy, self-directed learning and transformative learning are the 3 most commonly referenced.
  • Malcolm Knowles is widely known as the father of Andragogy (the art and science of helping adults learn) and posits the following assumptions regarding adult learners:
    • They prefer to be engaged in their learning...not passive receivers of information
    • They want to know "why" they are learning something and are relevancy-oriented
    • They are problem-centered and want to apply new learning immediately
    • They are self-directed in their learning and readily draw on prior experiences and knowledge to enhance learning
  • Self-directed learning theory, provided by Tough and Houle expands on the characteristics and motivations of adult learners and propose that adult learners:
    • Want to be involved in defining their own learning needs, objectives and expected outcomes
    • Seek out instructional strategies and resources which they perceive will best assist them in their learning
    • Choose subject matters that will have an immediate impact on their job or personal life
    • Prefer facilitators who act as guides through the learning process and foster critical inquiry and learner autonomy, rather than traditional lecturers
  • Transformative learning theory introduced by Jack Mezirow stresses the importance of critical reflection and discourse by learners and the provision of constructive feedback by educators as a means of increasing learning
    • Feedback should challenge learner's assumptions and facilitate critical thinking
    • Education should be designed to promote collaborative problem-solving and learner engagement

 

Objectives:

  • Define essential characteristics and assumptions of an adult learner
  • Describe motivating factors for adult learners
  • Incorporate adult learning strategies into your instructional design, delivery and assessment

 

Recommended Resources: 

Brief review

Watch

♥Andragogy (Adult Learning). PC3 - Janet Finlay. 8 minutes.
http://youtu.be/vLoPiHUZbEw

The revolution of self-directed learning. Sean Bengry. TEDx Talks. 9 minutes.
http://youtu.be/3L9qU7Y-oaA

♥The six adult learning principles. Cason Smith. 4 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLJ7cRwKI-I

Read

Kaufman DM. Applying educational theory in practice. BMJ : British Medical Journal 2003;326(7382):213-216
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1125068/pdf/213.pdf

Teaching Adults: Is It Different? ERIC Digest No. 82. Imel, Susan
http://eric.ed.gov/?q=Teaching+Adults%3a+Is+It+Different%3f+ERIC+Digest+No.+82.&id=ED305495

Stagnaro-Green A. Applying adult learning principles to medical education in the United States. Med Teach. 2004 Feb;26 (1):79-85.
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01421590310001642957

Do

Pettit J. Picturing the Art of Teaching: A Faculty Development Workshop. MedEdPORTAL Publications; 2015.
https://www.mededportal.org/publication/10253 

Pettit J, Rosenbaum M. Strengthening Your Teaching Toolbox. MedEdPORTAL Publications; 2014.
https://www.mededportal.org/publication/9873

 

In-Depth Review

Watch

♥Principles of Adult Learning in Surgical Training. JA Greenberg. UW Surgery. 41 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwHVbNL8dU4

Teaching Adult Learners with Herbert Puchta. Cambridge University. 61 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5AySP9mHfw

Adult Learning Techniques. Brain Mass. First of six video series is free. 9 minutes.
http://youtu.be/8leJYqI_dNw?list=PLB39B2F9ED496B30E

Transformative Learning for the Lifelong Learner. UC Berkeley. 1 hour and 56 minutes.
http://youtu.be/_oqhV2xgyz8

Read

New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education Special Issue: The New Update on Adult Learning Theory Issue 89, pages 3–14, Spring 2001
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291536-0717

Effective Adult Learning, A Toolkit for Teaching Adults, University of Washington School of Public Health
http://www.nwcphp.org/documents/training/Adult_Education_Toolkit.pdf

Bertha C, Craft D. How People Learn: A Cognitive Science Handbook for Beginning and Experienced Teachers. 22 pages. Free on iTunes Bookstore.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-people-learn/id590359968?mt=11

 Do

Ray D. iTEACH! Workshops for Teaching Physicians. MedEdPORTAL Publications; 2015.
https://www.mededportal.org/publication/10154

Teaching Adult Learners. Open 2 Study. Free course with 31 video lectures plus quizzes and assessments.
https://www.open2study.com/courses/teaching-adult-learners

Foundations of Teaching for Learning. Commonwealth Education Trust. Free 9-course series on Coursera.
https://www.coursera.org/learn/teaching