Characteristics of adult learners

Martin Valcke Martin.Valcke@UGent.be

http://users.ugent.be/~mvalcke/CV_2012/

Structure

•  Activity 1: brainstorm session and structuring the field

•  Three adult learner specialists (Galbraith, Jarvis, Knowles)

•  First principles of adult learning

Activity 1: brainstorm •  Bleu: What are strong characteristics

of adults they bring to a training? •  Red: What are challenges for adults

involved in training? •  White: When do adults feel good in a

training?

Strong Challenges Feel good

Knowles (1984a) •  The need to know (autonomy, self-

directed) •  Self-concept about own capabilities •  They bring in personal experiences. •  Readiness to learn. •  Have own orientation to learning. •  Motivation.

Jarvis (1992) •  Adults have a tremendous amount of

experiences •  Adults move from social to social

situation

Galbraith (1991)

•  Adults are varied/diverse •  Adults easily resist training •  Adults prefer active strategies •  Adults prefer to apply things •  They want the learning to be authentic •  They are independent

Motivation

•  Researchers focusing on adult education point at the criticial role of motivation

•  Recent theories emphasize “intrinsic” motivation

Motivation

•  Researchers focusing on adult education point at the criticial role of motivation

•  Recent theories emphasize “intrinsic” motivation

•  Clark (2003): motivation is the effort and persistence that the learner exerts in his or her learning.

Motivation

•  Self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan)

http://www.learning-knowledge.com/self-determination.html

SDT: what drives people?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-determination_theory

SDT: needs of people

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-determination_theory

•  Autonomy: freedom, own decisions, choice, grab opportunities, ..

•  Belonging: working together, sharing, accepted by others, feeling related, …

•  Competence: I can do it, I can show what I can, willingness to grow, to feel progress, …

Conclusions

1.  Consider characteristics of adults 2.  Consider central role of adult needs

in view of intrinsic motivation

Characteristics of adult learners

Martin Valcke Martin.Valcke@UGent.be

http://users.ugent.be/~mvalcke/CV_2012/

Refs •  Galbraith, M. (1991). The adult learning transactional

process. In M. Galbraith (Ed.), Facilitating adult learning (pp.1-32)-. Malabar: Krieger.

•  Jarvis, P. (1992). Paradoxes of Learning: On Becoming an Individual in Society. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.

•  Knowles, M. (1984a). The adult learner: a neglected species. Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing.

•  Knowles, M. (1984b). Andragogy in Action. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.