Children and adults always learn although they learn differently. Both learn to process information, but adults learn to think and act differently. Throughout history, it has been discovered that even adults learn differently. So, the way of adult learning is called “Adult learning theories.”
What is adult learning theory?
While efforts were made to support adult needs, adult education was viewed at the time as an uncoordinated enterprise that failed to advance any specific kind of knowledge.
Earlier, adults were taught like children until 1968, when Malcolm Knowles argued that “the biggest obstacle to the achievement of the full potential of adult education has been that it has been tied to and it has been hamstrung by the concepts and the methods of the traditional education of children.” This started to differentiate teaching and learning focus between children and adults. Then, we can focus on supporting adult learners’ unique characteristics and needs.
As such, he proposed an alternative set of assumptions about adult learners that serve as the basic adult learning principles:
• Adults have a need to know.
• Adults are self-directed.
• Adults draw upon their lived experiences.
• Adults have a readiness to learn.
• An adult’s orientation to learning is life-centered.
• Adults are driven by a motivation to learn.
The principles of adult education
This focus sets adult education apart from traditional teaching methods, offering a distinctive and effective framework for the educational development of adult learners.
Here’s a basic synopsis of the six principles of adult learning:
1. Need to know: Adults have a desire to understand the underlying reasons for their learning.
2. Self-directed learning: Adult learners demonstrate a preference for autonomy over their learning. This includes setting their own learning objectives, selecting the methods and resources for their learning, and conducting self-assessments of their progress.
3. Drawing from lived experiences: Adults integrate their personal and professional experiences into their learning process.
4. Readiness to learn: Adult learners are generally more inclined to engage in activities when they perceive a direct relevance to their lives.
5. Life-centered orientation to learning: The focus of adult learning frequently centers on practical problem-solving and goal achievement.
6. Intrinsic motivation: The driving force behind adult learning is predominantly internal motivation. This intrinsic drive often stems from desires for personal development, career progression, enhanced job performance and other self-determined incentives, rather than external compulsion or rewards.
Challenges of adult learning
Adults might face a variety of challenges when trying to learn, whether in school or at work. This means that learning as an adult requires different strategies and support compared to when we were younger. Some common challenges include:
• Time constraints
• Confidence issues
• Financial considerations
Whether in the classroom or the boardroom, adult learning theories offer valuable insight for how adults learn; and becoming a lifelong learner is one lesson that benefits everyone.