Adult Learning Theory

Adult Learning Theory

Adult Learning Theory Are people too stubborn and independent to learn once they become adults? The Adult Learning Theory focuses on the difference between how adults learn and how children learn. There are three main central ideas that support the Adult Learning Theory. These ideas or theories are known as andragogy, self–directed learning, and transformational learning. Andragogy is the teaching of adults, self–directed learning is the individual controlling their learning, and transformational learning is the individual learning from life experiences. The term andragogy was first used in 1833 by Alexander Kapp, but Malcolm Knowles was the first person to theorize it. Andragogy focuses more on the learner instead of the teacher. For ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...The next principle deals with the steps that adults need to take in order to learn and focus on how it will effect their lives. Lastly, adults must have some type of incentives that make them want to learn, such as being able to support their family, having a career they enjoy, and just being successful overall. The six principles of andragogy should be applied to how the curriculum for adult learning is created. Providing lessons that adults enjoy and can relate to is what will draw in students to the class. Also, it will be very beneficial to not only the adults, but the school as well. A study by a private liberal arts college was held and using a pre test–post test–control–group design, andragogy was tested against traditional instruction type teaching. After conducting the research it was concluded that there was no significant differences between the two different types of teaching. The self–directed learning theory is when adults make their own decisions about learning. They have full control over their learning and how it will define their future. Self–directed learning lets adults have their independence in the learning process. For example, students are to do a project on any subject as long as it deals with business. This lets the adults decide what topic they want to do, how they want to put the project together, and allows

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