Lec 4.4 - Adult Learning Theories

Andragogy

• Malcolm S. Knowles

• The art and science of helping adults learn

• Follows:

  • The adults have a need to learn

  • The learner’s self-concept

  • The role of learner’s experiences

  • Readiness to learn

  • Orientation to learning

  • Motivation

Active Learning

• Learner actively participates in their learning

• Implies:

  • Learners are more involved than just listening

  • Less emphasis is placed on transmitting information and more on developing a student’s skills

  • Learners are involved in higher-order thinking

  • Students are engaged in activities

  • Greater emphasis is placed on students’ exploration of their own values and attitudes

Experiential Learning

• David A. Kolb

• Learning process as a cycle of experience

• Use a variety of strategies to help the learner through different steps of learning

  • Concrete Experience

    • Having an experience

  • Reflective Observation

    • Reflecting on the experience

  • Abstract Conceptualisation

    • Learning from the experience

  • Active Experimentation

    • Trying out what is learned

Superficial vs Deep Learning

• Preference by which learners approach learning

• Some want deeper understanding of the topic (deep), while other prefer to only be presented the facts (superficial)

• Some strategically choose how they learn the topic depending on circumstances