The following is a quote from Malcolm Knowles, a twentieth century American educator famous for his adoption of the theory of andragogy. It’s taken from his book, Andragogy: an Emerging Technology for Adult Learning. “Adults have a need to be treated with respect, to make their own decisions, to be seen as unique human beings. [...]
From Sir Ken Robinson and RSA Animate, 2010, worth a rewatch, or a first watch.
Adults… learn only when they are ready to learn learn best what they actually perform learn from their mistakes learn easiest what is familiar to them favor different senses of learning learn methodically and systematically cannot learn what they do not understand learn through practice Mitchell, G. (1987). The Trainer’s Handbook: the AMA Guide To [...]
In adult learning, information flow is not a top down process. It should be an exchange. This is a critical distinction to remember. Adults do not respond well to didactic learning situations like lectures. When designing an adult learning activity, the learner must be involved and information must flow in all directions, information is to [...]
Adults learn out of want or need. Children learn in preparation for additional learning. It follows that in a pedagogical model subjects and teachers are the focal point. Students must adjust themselves to the curriculum. In adult education, the curriculum is built around the learner’s needs. In pedagogical learning, the instructor is responsible for all [...]
When most adults are given the opportunity to teach, train, or facilitate for the first time, their thoughts hearken back to the time they spent in school as a child or young adult. The instinct is to use that experience as a model for the development of their own classes or workshops. What’s important to [...]
