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

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