The Adult Learner Free powerpoints at http://www.worldofteaching.com

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." - Mark Van Doren

What is Learning? Learning involves change. concerned with the acquisition of habits, knowledge, and attitudes.

Learning involves change.

concerned with the acquisition of habits, knowledge, and attitudes.

What is Learning? It enables the individual to make both personal and social adjustments.

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 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.

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

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

Key Assumptions about Adult Learners: Adults are motivated to learn as they experience needs and interests that learning will satisfy.

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

Key Assumptions about Adult Learners: 2. Experience is the richest source for adults’ learning.

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

Key Assumptions about Adult Learners: 3. Adults have a need to be self-directing.

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

Dewey’s Key Concepts of Teaching: All genuine education comes about through experience. Democracy/Participation - promotes quality human experience

All genuine education comes about through experience.

Democracy/Participation - promotes quality human experience

Dewey’s Key Concepts of Teaching: Continuity - builds upon experiences that are worth while Interaction/Participative- it’s a social process

Continuity - builds upon experiences that are worth while

Interaction/Participative- it’s a social process

What Adults Need to Know Prior to Learning: how learning will be conducted what will be learned why it will be valuable

how learning will be conducted

what will be learned

why it will be valuable

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young." - Henry Ford

Breakdown of the Principals of Adult Learning Learning 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 self-directed.

Adult learning is enhanced when participants experience success.

KWL What do we know ? What do we want to know ? What did we learn ?

“ Show me and I forget; Teach me and I remember; Involve me and I learn.” - B. Franklin

Jane Vella’s 12 Principles of teaching adults

Principle 1 Needs Assessment . Learners need to participate in naming, what is to be learned

Needs Assessment .

Learners need to participate in naming, what is to be learned

Principle 2 Safety Learners need a safe, nurturing environment in which there is trust.

Safety

Learners need a safe, nurturing environment in which there is trust.

Principle 3 Sound Relationship Friendship without dependency Fun without trivialization Dialogue of peers

Sound Relationship

Friendship without dependency

Fun without trivialization

Dialogue of peers

Principle 4 Sequencing. Small to big Easy to hard Slow to fast

Sequencing.

Small to big

Easy to hard

Slow to fast

Principle 5 Action with reflection. Description / Analysis / Application / Implementation

Action with reflection.

Description / Analysis /

Application / Implementation

Principle 6 Control. Learners as subjects. Learners as decision makers.

Control.

Learners as subjects.

Learners as decision makers.

Principle 7 Feelings / Emotions Learning through pictures / sound / opinion / discussion. Learning through the learners experiences / beliefs.

Feelings / Emotions

Learning through pictures / sound / opinion / discussion.

Learning through the learners experiences / beliefs.

Principle 8 Immediacy. Learning that is practical, can be used in their workplace, learning directly relevant to tomorrow.

Immediacy.

Learning that is practical, can be used in their workplace, learning directly relevant to tomorrow.

Principle 9 Clear Roles. Clearly defined roles and who does what in the learning process.

Clear Roles.

Clearly defined roles and who does what in the learning process.

Principle 10 Teamwork. A social aspect to the learning. Adults need to network, learn by facilitation with other peers.

Teamwork.

A social aspect to the learning. Adults need to network, learn by facilitation with other peers.

Principle 11 Engagement. Learners are active participants with an investment in the learning beyond the classroom.

Engagement.

Learners are active participants with an investment in the learning beyond the classroom.

Principle 12 Accountability. Learners expect results. What was planned for should be seen/reviewed in an outcome.

Accountability.

Learners expect results.

What was planned for should be seen/reviewed in an outcome.

REFERENCES http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/adults-1.htm Merriam, S. B. and Caffarella, R. S. (1991) Learning in Adulthood. A comprehensive guide , San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Knowles, Malcolm,(1978), The adult learner : a neglected species , Houston, Gulf Pub. Co. Vella, Jane, (1994), Learning to listen, learning to teach, San Francisco,Jossey-Bass Publishers

http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/adults-1.htm

Merriam, S. B. and Caffarella, R. S. (1991) Learning in Adulthood. A comprehensive guide , San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Knowles, Malcolm,(1978), The adult learner : a neglected species , Houston, Gulf Pub. Co.

Vella, Jane, (1994), Learning to listen, learning to teach, San Francisco,Jossey-Bass Publishers

EFL CLASSROOM http://eflclassroom.ning.com