Adult Learner Characteristics & Teaching Implications

Adult Learner Characteristics

&

Teaching Implications

Adult Learners Characteristics

Adult learner characteristics

Principles of adult learning

Teaching implications

Adults want to take more control over learning than youth. As adults are self-directed in their lives, they transfer this need for independence to the learning situation.

Adults are autonomous and self directed.

ask for their preferences

allow them to choose among different activities

implement self-assessment




Adults draw upon their experiences as a resource for learning.

Adults have accumulated a foundation of experiences and knowledge.

use their experiences as a resource for learning

connect their previous knowledge with their new knowledge





Adults tend to be more motivated than youth.

Remember that they choose to take your class.

Adults are goal oriented.

They have clear objectives for attending a course.

show them the objectives of the course

invite them to share their objectives and make them part of the plan

maintain their motivation through varied and relevant activities





Adults are pragmatic.

They want to put what they learn immediately into practice.

Adults are relevancy oriented and practical.

don’t spend too much time with theory

show the applicability of the new knowledge

try to put the students’ needs first

make them use what you’ve taught immediately





The learner role is secondary for adults, and they must fit their learning into life’s margins. Since they have many roles in life, being a student is not their main priority.

Adults need to be shown respect.

establish a peer relationship with them

give all the students the same opportunities

be flexible





Many adults lack confidence in their learning because of negative past experiences and “rusty” study skills.

use confidence-building activities

teach study skills

use pairs and groups to reduce anxiety




Adults are more resistant to change.

They are comfortable with what they know and what works for them.

explain the reasons underlying the changes

link new ideas with previous ones

introduce changes slowly, one by one




Adults must compensate for aging in learning.

Though adults may have problems related with age, such as sight or mobility, they learn slowly but more deeply.

check the learning environment

check your pace to give them time to process the information


Resistant Learners Teaching implications•Think about an especially tough resistor that you had to deal with

•Be that person—”What are the reasons I don’t want to be here?”

•Priorities: other things are more important•Relevant: what’s in it for me•Fear: of change, embarrassment•Boring: death by lecture

Associate with the resistor Reiterate class agenda and objectives Engage the resistor in discussion or activity Switch to discussion or activity

Why Adults Want To Learn

To gain knowledge or a skill they need

To better manage changes in their lives

To increase or maintain a sense of self-esteem

Adults learn best when:

• teaching is built upon their own experiences

• they can apply what they have learned immediately to their own lives

• there is a mixture of teaching approaches

• the learning environment is friendly, informal and comfortable

Effective teaching

• The best presentations are dynamic, responsive and organic, not canned.

• Keep your class size small. • Keep lectures to a minimum. Stop for

questions and answer. Follow up with a learning activity.

• Draw on life experiences, your own as well as theirs.

Care about your audience

• Make them feel welcomed and comfortable.

• Be respectful.• Make eye contact.• Allow time for them to ask questions.• Take time to break into small interactive

learning groups.

One Week Before Your Training

One Day Before Your Training

One Hour Before Your Training

One Minute Before Your Training

A good teacher of adults

• Is people-centered, more interested in people than things, more interested in individuality than conformity, and more interested in finding solutions than following rules.

• Is understanding, flexible, patient, humorous, practical, creative and prepared.

• In other words…a Librarian.

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Adult Learner Characteristics & Teaching Implications