Adult LearnersStefanie Buck

Instruction Roundup 2013

Oregon State University Libraries

Agree or Disagree?

“Individual differences among people increase with age; therefore, adult education must make optimal provision for difference in style, time, place and pace of learning.”

Knowles, M. S., Holton, E. F., & Swanson, R.S. (2005). The adult learner (6th ed.). San Diego, CA: Elsevier.

Rossman Adult Learning Inventory

Exercise

Objectives

o Define Andragogy

o Identify characteristics of adult learners

o Identify ways to create a teaching environment conducive to adult learners

What is an “Adult Learner?”Exercise

What is an “Adult Learner”?

o Delayed enrollment/Does not have high school diploma

o Part time student for at least part of the academic year;

o Works full time (35 hours or more per week) while enrolled;

o Financially independent:

o Retraining;

o Is married/a single parent/dependents

o Veterans

Adult Learners at OSU

“Using age as a measure, about 38 percent of undergraduates are non-traditional. The proportion age 25 or older: 21 percent at the University of Oregon; 27 percent at Oregon State University; 60 percent at PSU; and 68 percent at Eastern Oregon University.”

Graves, B. (2011, June 9 ) Oregon universities see more non-traditional students graduate. The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2011/06/oregon_universities_see_more_n.html

What is an “Adult Learner”?

o Not just related to age

o State of learning readiness

Pedagogy

the art and science of educating children

Andragogy

people become adults psychologically when they arrive

at a self-concept of being responsible for their own lives, of

being self-directing

Knowles, M.S. (1984). Andragogy in action: Applying modern principles of adult learning.

San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Are university’s today based on a pedagogical or andragogical

model?Discuss

Six Key Assumptions of Andragogy

1) Adults need to know why they need to know something,

2) Self-concept,

3) Experience,

4) Readiness to learn depends on need,

5) Problem centered focus,

6) Internal motivation

as cited in Merriam, S.B., Caffarella, R.S., & Baumgartner, L.M. (2007). Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide. San Francisco, CA: Wiley.

Andragogy (Adult Learning)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLoPiHUZbEw

Characteristics

o Adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction.

o Experience (including mistakes) provides the basis for learning activities.

o Adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance to their job or personal life.

o Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented.

What it means to meWorksheet

Creating a Climate

What matters to me?Exercise

Climate for Adult Learners

o mutual respect,

o collaborativeness,

o supportiveness,

o mutual planning,

o openness,

o fun…

The Critics

Andragogy (Adult Learning)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLoPiHUZbEw

Pedagogy vs. Andragogy

http://youtu.be/17T1h0gf3IM

Structure vs. Autonomy

Best Practices

a) Create a safe, welcoming learning environment

b) Culture empathy, respect, approachability, authenticity

c) Collaborate on the diagnosis of learning needs

d) Collaborate on developing learning objectives and in instructional planning

e) Ensure the practicality of all learning activities