1 / 27

Principles of Adult Learning

Principles of Adult Learning. In this module. Adults learn differently from children. Teaching strategies need to address adult learners’ unique needs, life experiences, and preferences. In this module, you will learn: Learning Styles Principles of Adult Learning

venetia
Download Presentation

Principles of Adult Learning

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Principles of Adult Learning

  2. In this module Adults learn differently from children. Teaching strategies need to address adult learners’ unique needs, life experiences, and preferences. In this module, you will learn: • Learning Styles • Principles of Adult Learning • Strategies for working with adult learners

  3. Adults learn differently from children.

  4. Learner Characteristics Perceive being a learner as one of their major roles in life. Answer: Children

  5. Learner Characteristics Learn best when they perceive outcome of learning process is valuable. Answer: Adults

  6. Learner Characteristics Are more often externally motivated. Answer: Children

  7. Learner Characteristics Readiness to learn is linked to needs. Answer: Adults

  8. Learner Characteristics Have well-formed expectations. Answer: Adults

  9. Who was your favorite teacher? • What characteristics do you remember? • What made him or her your favorite teacher? • What and how did he or she teach? • In what phase of education did you interact with this teacher?

  10. Which teacher did you learn the most from? Who was your favorite teacher? • What characteristics do you remember? • Why did you learn most from him or her? • What and how did he or she teach? • In what phase of education did you interact with this teacher?

  11. Learning Styles Multi-Modal Kinesthetic

  12. Learning Styles • Visual (see it) • Auditory (hear it) • Reading/Writing • Kinesthetic (do it)

  13. Visual • Visual • Looking, seeing, viewing and watching • Need to see instructor’s facial expressions and body language • Tend to sit at front to avoid visual distractions • Tend to think in pictures and prefer to learn from visual displays

  14. Auditory (Hearing) • Auditory • Listening, hearing and speaking • Learn through lectures, discussions, and brainstorming • Interpret underlying meaning by listening to voice tone, pitch, and speed • Written information may have little meaning until heard

  15. Read/Write • Information displayed as words • Copious note takers • Avid readers • Good at translating abstract concepts to written words • Reading and writing in all forms • Internet • Manuals • Quotations • Read/ Write

  16. Kinesthetic • Experiencing, moving, and doing • Prefer hands-on approach and actively exploring • Difficulty sitting still for long period of time; may be easily distracted • Kinesthetic

  17. 6 Principles of Adult Learning • Adults are internally motivated, autonomous, and self-directed. • Adults bring life experience and knowledge to learning. • Adults are goal-oriented. • Adults are relevancy-oriented. • Adults are practical. • Adults desire respect.

  18. Internally Motivated & Self-directed • Encourage the learner • Allow room for participants to determine parts of learning process • Ask for their opinion and feedback • Give them responsibility (and step back) • Help them define how learning opportunity matches with their goals.

  19. Bring Life Experience and Knowledge to Learning • Come with a wide range of previous experiences • Need to connect new ideas with existing knowledge

  20. Goal-oriented • How will it help them reach their goals? • What’s in it for them? • Well organized, clearly show connection between content/activities, and expected outcomes • Provide feedback

  21. Relevancy-oriented Want to know why they should learn something

  22. Practical • Learn by doing • Focus on most useful aspects • Not usually interested in knowledge for its own sake

  23. Adult Learners Desire Respect • Trust and concern • Acknowledge wealth of experiences, contributions • Freedom to question and challenge

  24. Other Tips for Working with Adults • Create a supportive environment • Respect is key! • Call each participant by name throughout session • Listen to each person’s questions and viewpoints • Never belittle an individual • Always be courteous and patient • Make sure participants know mistakes are part of the learning process – it’s okay to mess up • Look for opportunities to validate each person • Make physical space as comfortable as possible

  25. Other Tips for Working with Adults • Use training methods that require active participation • Engages participants in learning process • Limit lecturing • Encourage participation and sharing of experiences • Use question techniques • Weave discussion sections with exercises that allow participants to practice a skill or apply knowledge

  26. Adults learn best when: • They are allowed to define their own needs • See personal growth opportunities • Material is relevant to perceived needs AND immediately applicable • They feel life experience is respected • Instructions are clear and objectives set from the start • Receive positive reinforcement and timely feedback • Feel free to question and challenge

  27. Well Connected Communities is a nationwide effort to cultivate wellness led by America’s Cooperative Extension System, in partnership with National 4-H Council, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

More Related