Every trainer's ambition is to make corporate learning as impactful and engaging as possible. But how? One method to master great training and course creation is by understanding how your learner's mind works. Adult Learning Theory, also known as andragogy is a concept that has been around for years. It highlights the distinct ways adults best respond to learning and it's a must-know for any training provider. It aims to show how adult learning is distinct and identify the learning styles which suit them best.
But adult education happens every day, and there are many important reasons why adults may pursue education. Adult learning is very common in the United States, and these students may sometimes be called non-traditional students in some colleges or universities. For most adults, pursuing education is a combination of a desire for self-improvement, a need to learn specific skills, and a want to improve job possibilities. Colleges like WGU are focused on helping adult learners. The theories and techniques for adult education help millions of adult students find success as they continue their learning and growth. Discover the theories behind adult learning and how they can help you with your higher education goals.
6 Adult Learning Theories and How to Put Them into Practice
What motivates an adult to learn: curiosity or a simple need to know? Educational researchers have come up with an array of answers to that question over the years. Adult learning theories are based on the premise that adults learn differently than children. Here are some basic differences:. Over the last century, a number of adult learning theories have gained prominence.
In doing so, you will be able to create programs that will engage learners, save time, and lead to better employee performance. There are quite a few different adult learning theories, but all of them start with the same idea: Adults learn differently than children. Adult learning theories highlight the fact that training programs must be developed with adults in mind to be effective. There is no one unified adult learning theory, however, there are different theories that will fit the needs of different organizations.