16 April 2019

Adult Learning Principles

Author/Compiled by
Sreevidya Satish (Ecosan Services Foundation)

Executive Summary

Learning opportunities for adults exist in a variety of settings, ranging from a formal institution to day to day practical learning at work. It is important to acknowledge prior knowledge and experiences of learners, including their ability to recognize their own skills as lifelong learners. Considerations for adult development and learning include biological and psychological development and socio cultural and integrative perspectives on development. While the most common reason for adults to place themselves in a learning environment is a life-changing event, once in that environment there are many factors that affect the learning experience (MERRIAM and CAFFARELLA 1999).

Advantages
Sound knowledge on adult learning and the ability of trainers to address the training needs of the participants with a divers and interesting programme will increase the about adult learning will increase the learning success
Knowing the difference of absorbing and retaining information in different individuals may help trainer recognize participant’s strong points as well as not-so-strong areas
Disadvantages
Participants can be unproductive if they are not guided well in alternative teaching formats (other than lectures)
To adapt a training course to the learning needs of participants is more demanding and time consuming than just giving a series of lectures

Introduction

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Educators have historically supported the position that learning is a lifelong procedure, but few have acknowledged that learning is accomplished in different ways at various stages of life. Research indicates that a child seven years of age has a different learning pattern than a high school senior, or an adult. Until recently, however, the same principles of learning, or pedagogy, were applied to all learning situations regardless of the learner's maturity (RICHARDSON and PRICKETT 1994). Part of being an effective instructor involves understanding how adults learn best. Compared to children and teens, adults have different needs and requirements as learners.

Figure 1: Participants in an ecosan course in India perform a role play. While the “activist learner” can get a lot out of such exercises, “reflectors” prefer different learning environment (source: Ecosan Services Foundation).

Participants in an ecosan course in India perform a role play. While the “activist learner” can get a lot out of such exercises, “reflectors” prefer different learning environment. Source: Ecosan Services Foundation.

Adult Learning

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Compared to children, adults are more autonomous and self-directed. They need to be free to direct themselves. Facilitators must actively involve adult participants in the learning process. Specifically, they must get participant’s perspectives about what topics to cover and let them work on projects that reflect their interests. Facilitators must guide participants to their own knowledge rather than supplying them with facts (LIEB 1991).

Further, adults are more goal- and relevance-oriented than children. They must see a reason for learning something. Learning has to be applicable to their work or other responsibilities to be of value to them.

Adults are practical, focusing on the aspects of a lesson most useful to them in their work. They may not be interested in knowledge for its own sake (KNOWLES 1998).

Unlike children and teenagers, adults have many responsibilities that they must balance against the demands of learning. Because of these responsibilities, adults have barriers (lack of time, money, confidence, etc.) against participating in learning.

Despite this general common ground of adult learners, there are different ways how people learn. HONEY (1992), for instance, describes four main types of individuals: activists, reflectors, theorists and pragmatists.

 

Adult Learning Types

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Activists

Activists like to be involved in new experiences. They are open minded and enthusiastic about new ideas but get bored with implementation. They enjoy doing things and tend to act first and consider the implications afterwards. Activists like working with others but tent to hog the limelight.

 

Activists learn best when

Activists learn less when

  • Involved in new experiences, problems and opportunities
  • Working with others in games, team tasks and roleplays
  • Being thrown in the deep and with a difficult task
  • Chairing meetings and leading discussions
  • Listening to lectures or long explanations
  • Reading, writing or thinking on their own
  • Absorbing and understanding data
  • Following precise instruction to the letter

 

Reflectors

Reflectors like to stand back and look a situation from different perspectives. They like to collect information and think about it carefully before coming to any conclusions. Reflectors enjoy observing others and will listen to their views before offering their own.

 

Reflectors learn best when

Reflectors learn less when

  • Observing individuals or groups doing something
  • They have the opportunity to review what has happened and think about what they have learned
  • Producing analyses and reports doing tasks without tight deadlines
  • Acting as a leader or role-playing in front of others
  • Doing things with no time to prepare
  • Being thrown in at the deep end
  • Being rushed or worried by deadlines.

 

Theorists

Theorists adapt and integrate observations into complex and logically sound theories. They think problems through in a step-by-step way. They tend to perfectionists who like to fit things into a rational scheme. Theorists tend to be detached and analytical rather than subjective or emotive in their thinking.

 

Theorists learn best when

Theorists learn less when

  • They are put in complex situations where they have to use their skills and knowledge.
  • They are in structured situations with clear purpose
  • They are offered interesting ideas or concepts even though they are not immediately relevant
  • They have the chance to question and probe ideas behind things
  • They have to participate in situations which emphasise emotion and feelings
  • The activity is un structured or briefing is poor
  • They have to do things without knowing the principles or concepts involved
  • They feel they are out of tune with the other participants ,e.g. with people of very different learning styles

 

Pragmatists

Pragmatists are keen to trying out. They want concepts that can be applied to their job. They tend to be impatient with lengthy discussions and are practical and down to earth.

 

Pragmatists learn best when

Pragmatists learn less when

  • There is an obvious link between the training topic and their work
  • They have to chance to try out techniques with feedback, e.g. role playing
  • They are shown techniques with obvious advantages, e.g. saving time or money
  • They have a role-model and credible expert
  • There is no obvious or immediate benefit that they can recognise
  • There is no practise or guidelines on how to do it
  • There is no apparent pay back to the learning ,e.g. no time or money saved
  • The event or learning is ‘all theory’

Most of us have elements of more than one learning style. Knowing which your strongest and weakest styles are will help you identify how you best learn. As a trainer, having an appreciation of the different styles will help you to design stimulating and effective training sessions.

Your Learning Style Can Affect Your Training Style!

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As a trainer, be aware of how of your own learning style may affect your choice of activity. Aim to appeal to all learning styles and pick a range of methods, not just those that you might naturally favour.

ACTIVISTS are more likely to favour:

THEORISTS you may more likely to favour:

  • Analysis of information
  • Handouts with detailed background information
  • Presentation of theories, models concepts, systems
  • Questions and answer sessions
  • Relating the training activity to the relevant theory/model
  • Structured situations

REFLECTORS ARE more likely to favour:

  • Activities building on pre-course work
  • Exchange of information
  • Observing or using observers
  • Preventing research and analysis
  • Reviewing group activities to learn lessons
  • Showing DVD’s and videos
  • Structured group discussions
  • Using video to record activities or role plays

PRAGMATISTS are more likely to favour:

  • Activities that have quantifiable end result
  • Anything with an immediate practical recommendation
  • Case studies closely linked to people’s experiences
  • Demonstrations
  • Practical exercises that give participants the opportunity to try things out
  • Simulations of “real” situations

Considering these differences, there is no “one fits all” approach for adult teaching. However, what can be said for sure is that all different types of learners will prefer an interesting mix of different learning methods over a series of monotonous lectures without any interaction.

Hence, understanding the adult learner is critical to the success of this learning approach. Adult learners need continual opportunities to identify their needs and recognise the relevance of their learning in terms of their own lives. Adult learners need self-directed learning opportunities in which they can actively participate (KROEHNERT 2007). They need to actively think, to do, and to reflect on experiences, to discuss with others, and to practice and learn new skills. The adult learner needs interactive communication with both the facilitator and fellow learners, which is different from one-way facilitator-to-learner communication. The learner needs to continually reassess the question, “Where am I now and where do I want to go?”

Applicability

Understanding the adult learner is very important to give any successful training courses for adults. It is crucial that the trainers are aware about the different ways people learn and know how they can address these different learning needs.

Library References

Principles of Adult Learning

The website contains a brief discussion of the principles of adult learning, what motivates adult learners, and some tips to improve facilitation.

LIEB, S. (1991): Principles of Adult Learning. Arizona: South Mountain Community College from VISION URL [Accessed: 07.05.2012]
Further Readings

Principles of Adult Learning

The website contains a brief discussion of the principles of adult learning, what motivates adult learners, and some tips to improve facilitation.

LIEB, S. (1991): Principles of Adult Learning. Arizona: South Mountain Community College from VISION URL [Accessed: 07.05.2012]
Training Material

The Learning Styles Quiz

This questionnaire helps you to identify your own areas of strength and weakness in operating a training cycle.

HONEY, P. MUMFORD, A. (2006): The Learning Styles Quiz. Maidenhead Berks: Peter Honey Publications Ltd.

Alternative Versions to