Adult Learning

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Adult Learning

• what we believe?
• what we know?
• what we DO?

Nancy White Full Circle Associates
http//www.fullcirc.com
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Brain, Intuition,
Heart
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We are Individuals
Learning is a process, not a thing that can be
seen. It is individual and personal.
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First Perspective Teaching

• Motivation Why people learn
• Instruction How people learn
• Context How the part fits the big picture
• Explanation Step by step, digestible small
  chunks
• Practice Demonstrate, practice with supervision,
  solo
• Evaluate Verify learning

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Second PerspectiveEmpowered Learners

• Co-design
• Customize
• Have Identity
• Manipulate
• James Paul Gee, What Video Games Have to Teach
  us About Learning and Literacy

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Learning Through Problem Solving

• Well ordered problems
• Pleasantly frustrating
• Cycles of expertise
• Information on demand
• Fishtanks
• Sandboxes

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Three Kinds of Learning

• Through the 5 senses
• Intuitive
• Reflective

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Blooms Cognitive Domain of Learning
Evaluation
The ability to judge how well something went or
met a goal.
Synthesis
The ability to put parts together in a new way or
to form a new pattern.
Able to break down things into smaller parts.
Analysis
Application
Ability to use learned information in new and
concrete ways.
Development of understanding to put in own words,
explain/clarify meaning, and infer unknown
information from known.
Comprehension
Knowledge
The ability to remember and recall in the same
way it was taught.
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Krathwohls Affective Domain of Learning
Characterization
Integration of values into daily lifestyle or
philosophy. Start to live it naturally. Becomes
part of your life.
Organization
Adding new values or beliefs, starting to
organize life around those values
Valuing
Acceptance, appreciation, preference, commitment
to something because of its perceived worth or
value
Responding
Taking action, giving feedback, obtaining
satisfaction
Receiving
Paying attention to someone or something
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Evaluation
Cognitive Domain of Learning
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge
Affective Domain of Learning
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Kolbs Learning Styles

• We use all four learning styles but usually
  prefer one.
• Theorist - Abstract Conceptualization lecture,
  papers, analogies, how this related to that, case
  studies, theory readings, thinking alone.

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Kolbs Learning Styles

• Pragmatist - Concrete Experience laboratories,
  field work, observations, how can I apply this in
  practice, peer feedback.
• Activist - Active Experimentation simulations,
  case study, small group discussions, peer
  feedback.
• Reflector - Reflective Observation logs,
  journals, brainstorming, time to think.

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Thorndikes Laws of Learning

• Law of Readiness People learn best when they are
  ready to learn.
• Law of Exercise People enhance their memory
  through repetition, drill practice.
• Law of Effect Learning is strengthened when
  accompanied by pleasant, non threatening
  situation. It is decreased when associated with
  unpleasant situation.

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More Thorndike

• Law of Primacy First impressions last. Both good
  and bad.
• Law of Intensity Learners learn more from doing
  real things than substitutes.
• Law of Recency We remember the most recent thing
  we learn.

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Characteristics of Adult Learners

• How are adult learners different than children?
• What do they want?
• What do they need?

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Characteristic 1

• The adult learner is primarily independent/self-di
  rected in what he/she learns.
• Implication support identity through
  introductions, use discussion, let them answer
  the questions, provide take aways/handouts for
  subsequent learning.

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Characteristic 2

• The adult learner has considerable experience to
  draw upon.
• Implication opportunity for sharing experiences,
  small group discussion, build on past positive
  experiences.

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Characteristic 3

• The adult learner is most apt to be interested in
  topics that relate to the his/her stage of life.
• Implication different ages may have different
  interests and concerns, as do individuals. Get
  feedback across the group. Those in transition
  are often more ready to learn.

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Characteristic 4

• The adult learner is most interested in
  information and ideas that solve problems that
  they presently face.
• Implication use problem focused presentations vs
  information focused, use the learners own
  problems.

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Characteristic 5

• The adult learner is most interested in
  information that can be applied immediately.
• Implication Focus on immediately usable ideas,
  ask learners to think of how they will apply
  their learnings.

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Characteristic 6

• The adult learner is motivated from within
  him/herself.
• Implication Rewards arent always useful. Find
  out what the learner values. Respond to those
  values. (Remember the Affective Domain!)

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Bring Learning to Life

• For one minute
• Once a week
• Ten things
• Understand how
• you learn to better
• understand how
• learning happens.

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Without practice, there is no knowledge Paulo
Freire