The Adult Learner

Shawky Allam

"The art of teaching is the

art of assisting discovery."

What is Learning? Learning involves change. It is concerned with the acquisition

of habits, knowledge, and attitudes.

It enables the individual to make both personal and social adjustments.

What is Learning? Learning is a change in the individual,

due to the interaction of that individual, and his environment, which fills a need and makes him more capable of dealing adequately with his environment.

Learning is a change in human disposition or capability, which can be retained and applied.

Key Assumptions about Adult Learners:

1. Adults are motivated to learn as they experience needs and interests that learning will satisfy.

2. Adults’ orientation to learning is life-centered.

3. Experience is the richest source for adults’ learning.

4. Adults have a need to be self-directing.

Key Concepts of Teaching:

All genuine education comes about through experience.

Democracy/Participation - promotes quality human experience

Continuity - builds upon experiences that are worth while

Interaction/Participative- it’s a social process

What Adults Need to Know Prior to Learning:

Need to know how learning will be conducted

Need to know what will be learned Need to know why it will be valuable

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether

at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps

learning stays young."

-

Breakdown of the Principals of Adult

LearningLearning is enhanced

when it can immediately be

applied in a real-life context.

Learning is enhanced when

adult learners have control

or influence over their educational experiences.

Learning depends on past

and current experiences.

Learning is enhanced when

people are active participants.

Learning requires an environment

of comfort and respect.

Learning is enhanced when

learning is self-directed.

Adult learning is enhanced when

participants experience success.

Helpful Format

What do we know about…What do we want to know

about…What did we learn about…

(after)

“Show me and I forget;Teach me and I

remember; Involve me and I learn.”

- B. Franklin