Learning Transfer and Learning Transfer and Thinking Patterns in Thinking Patterns in AdultsAdults

Presentation prepared for:The Teaching and Nurturing the Adult Learner Roundtable Colloquium

Moderator:Dr. W. Kenneth Bulls II

Developed on 04/10/23

OutlineOutlineAdult Learner’s ExperiencesImportance of Cognitive

DevelopmentTransferring Learning ExperiencesAndragogy vs PedagogyKey Learning Environment

ConceptsLearning Environment Case StudyBenefits

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Group IcebreakerGroup IcebreakerNASA Exercise

3-5 Minute Group Exercise

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NASA ExerciseNASA Exercise

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You are a space crew originally scheduled to rendezvous with a Mother ship on he lighted surface of the moon. Due to mechanical difficulties, however, your ship was forced to land at a spot some 200 miles from the rendezvous point. During landing, much of the equipment aboard was damaged and since survival depends on reaching the Mother ship, the most critical items available must be chosen for the 200 mile trip. Listed are the 15 items left intact and undamaged after landing. Your task is to rank order them in terms of their importance in allowing your crew to reach the rendezvous point. Place the number “1” by the most important item, the number “2” by the second most important, and so on through number “15”, the least important. You have 10 minutes to accomplish task. 15 Items: __ box of matches __ food concentrate __ 50 feet of rope __ parachute silk __ portable heating unit __ two .45 caliber pistols __ one case dehydrated canned milk __ two 100 lb tanks of oxygen __ stellar map __ life raft __ magnetic compass __ 5 gallons of water __ signal flares __ first-aid kit with injection needles __ solar-powered FM receiver-transmitter

NASA AnswersNASA Answers

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1- two 100 lb tanks of oxygen Most pressing survival need

2- 5 gallons of water replacement for tremendous liquid loss on lighted side

3- stellar map primary means of navigation

4- food concentrate efficient means of supplying energy requirements

5- solar-powered FM radio for communication with Mother ship

6- 50 foot of nylon rope useful in scaling cliffs, tying injured together

7- first-aid kit needles for vitamins, medicines, etc., will fit special aperture in

NASA spacesuits 8- parachute silk

protection from sun’s rays 9- life raft

CO bottle in military raft may be used for propulsion 10-signal flares

distress signal when Mother ship is sighted 11-two .45 caliber pistols

possible means of self propulsion 12-one case canned milk

bulkier duplication of food concentrate 13-portable heating unit

not needed unless on the darkside of moon 14-magnetic compass

magnetic field on moon is not polarized, worthless for navigation

15-box of matches no oxygen on moon to sustain flame

Adult Learner ExperiencesAdult Learner Experiences What do adult learners bring to

the table that traditional students don’t?

Life-Work Experiences!04/10/23

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive DevelopmentCognitive development refers to the

change in thinking patterns as one gets older

Two major research themes: dialectical thinking and contextual factors

Both are critical in determining how we develop our thinking patterns as adults

(Merriam & Caffarella, 1999)

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Group BrainteaserGroup BrainteaserDoes learning transfer across

contexts; specifically with various experiences of the adult learner?

2-5 Minute Group Discussion

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Transferring Learning Transferring Learning ExperiencesExperiences

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Corporate

Military

Higher Education

Classroom

Transfer Learning Transfer Learning ExperiencesExperiences

Life experiences vary in nature

Bottom-line…It’s real therefore use as a teaching tool and instruction tool to enhance the adult learning experience

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Andragogy vs PedagogyAndragogy vs Pedagogy

Andragogy = learner centered

Pedagogy = teacher centered

To enhance the adult learning experience incorporate BOTH philosophies

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Key Learning Environment Key Learning Environment ConceptsConcepts

Adult Learner = is there for a reasonInstructor = resident expertAdult Learner = experiences countInstructor = has not seen it all

Combine ALL experiences to enhance learning outcomes and objectives

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Instructor Demographic- Military Experience = 3 years- Age = 27 years- Discipline = Combat Engineer

Adult Learner Demographic- Experience = 0-15 years (military/civilian)- Mean Age = 28 years- Discipline = Nurse – Pilot

Course Leadership Development

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Learning Environment Learning Environment Case StudyCase Study

1st Half Course Format (Week 0 – 7)- Pedagogy – What they need to know- Instructor is the expert

2nd Half Course Format (Week 8 – 14)- Andragogy – Incorporating life-work experiences- Adult Learner’s experience counts

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Learning Environment Learning Environment Case StudyCase Study

BenefitsBenefitsAdult Learner learns subject matterAdult Learner feels engagedAdult Learner feels practical life-

work experiences count

ALL real-life examples are valuable teaching tools!

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ConclusionConclusionAdult Learner’s ExperiencesImportance of Cognitive

DevelopmentTransferring Learning ExperiencesAndragogy vs PedagogyKey Learning Environment

ConceptsLearning Environment Case StudyBenefits

04/10/23