Get Your Students Hired
Malcome Knowles is the father of adult learning, he established the pillars of adult learning.
basically adult learners develope more intrinsically; need justification for an answer, and want to be able to apply learned skills quickly.
Carl Rodger is an advocate for student learning where students direct the learning process itself.
I really like what Knowles states when he says that adult learners are motivated by internal rather than external factors because they know what they really want and what they really need. External factors are important but do not define the person's interests.
I will allow students to incorporate the best method that facilitates an active learning style to ensure that they are truly learning. I realize that some students will learn differently than others, and need to accommodate for that. Knowing this will allow for the adult learning to be successful through utilizing the tools that I would provide to them in addition to their educational process.
Adult learners, among other things, have a higher level of experiance that younger learners. In the classroom. this equates to a studnet that is able to imagnine and relate to the topic presented more easly.
Having adult students control their own learning is very efficient. I believe that this is effective only if most of the adult students are at the same level of knowledge. There may be some adult students that could be slower than the others and need extra time.
I find this section most beneficial and meaningful to me as the curricular philosophy and design that I have developed aligns with the theories of Knowles and Rogers. Problem-based, experiential learning not only is student-centered and student-driven, but increases engagement and buy-in.
Adult learners have a deep reservoir of life experiences that serve as resources for learning. Also hands on approach helps maximum benefits could be achieved in a lab based setting.
Adults need to be involved in learning to be interested and motivated. I will have a more interactive classroom.
The adult learner comes in with a wealth of knowledge and experience that become resources to them and to other learners in their environment. They can apply their knowledge immediately and have a sense of satisfaction and motivation. Getting to know the learner can help me adjust my teaching style to help connect with their learning style.
Adult students do not just do the owrk beciase they are told. They need buy in, or need to have a reason that this class matters for them. They are much more independant and if they are not internamlly motivcated, they will not exhiit that in a class setting either. This is nothing new to me in my teaching experience.
Both Knowles and Rogers pose important concepts regarding adult learning, particularly the non-threatening environment. It'd be intimidating returning to the educational system, starting from the bottom of something drastically unfamiliar (I've had my non-traditional students tell me as much). I'd like to observe my non-traditional students and see how many of Knowle's assumptions line up with their educational goals/motivations. I'm also interested in learning more about student self-assesment.
Life experiences can help with learning and can give you a step up since you have experience but Carl Rogers theory is just as important. Learning the hands-on approach can help those who feel they need the realistic experience.
The purposeful use of past skill to new learning opens the door to discovery of new methods not only of learning, but also in application. Life experience do bring its own side of learning to any type of proccess. It is imperative to be able to apply also new learning in order to improve on new experiences and life experience.
This module reminds me that adult learners, especially, need to know the reason for learning something. They will be more motivated to learn if they understand the connection between what they are learning in a classroom and how they can use it in their lives/careers. Carl Rogers theroy of experiential learning lends itself well to the professional program that I provide instruction for, because it is very focused on learning by doing.
I liked the point made about how students value self evaluation is a good assessment of learning. Many students want to learn and see an industry standard that they want to achieve. They are more likely to give a realistic assessment which helps them set personal goals if they are motivated to reach a specific benchmark and are made to look at where they need more practice and experience.