Learning for LifePrinciples of Adult Learning
Michael Chalk and Catherine Devlin, Adult Learning Australia (ALA).
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When do people learn best?
What is andragogy?
Malcolm Knowles an American educator defined andragogy as:
‘..the art and science of helping adults learn.’
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Principles of adult learning
1.The need to know2.Learner’s self-concept3.Role of the learner’s experience4.Readiness to learn5.Orientation to learning6.Motivation
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How do adult people learn?
1.What do your learners need to know?2.How well do they know themselves?3.What do they already know from experience?4.What do they want next?5.How is the learning connected to their lives?6.What motivates your learners?
1. Need to know
Adults want their learning to:
• meet their needs• be relevant• help them achieve their
goals.
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2. “Self-concept”
Adult learners:
are self-motivated and self-directed
are independent like to find their own
way can make their own
decisions want to manage their
own learning.
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What do they already know from experience?
3. Role of experience
Adult learners:• have diverse experience
and knowledge• may have ingrained ideas
about things• apply their life experience
and knowledge to new learning
• use their problem-solving, reflecting and reasoning skills.
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4. Readiness to learnAdult learners:• are goal focused• want timely and
meaningful learning experiences
• need clear learning goals.
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How is the learning connected to their lives?
How can you make the connection more real?
5. Orientation to learning
Adult learners: are practical – their
learning should apply to their lives, job, etc.
want to be involved in planning their learning
focus on the aspects that are most useful to them.
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What motivates your learners?
6. Motivation
For adult learners, the best motivators are:
• Internal, for example:
» increased job satisfaction» heightened self-esteem» better quality of life
• personal growth and development.
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What can you do to help people learn?
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How to help adults learn
• Encourage active participation
• Offer meaningful, relevant and holistic learning
• Ensure multi-sensory learning (using the 5 senses)
• Give learners time to practice and reflect on learning
• Give regular and useful feedback
• Motivate further learning with recognition and rewards