Adult Learning Theories

This week, I read about a number of learning theories and how that can be roughly divided into five different orientations. I realize that while choosing how a program should assist adult learn, it is important to realize the context and choose an appropriate theory. Not one theory is superior. I feel that each of this learning orientations interact with one another, often over lap in a manner we can use a combination of these in to our lessons.

I think that most adults are self directed learners who choose to learn because of various reasons ranging from positioning them better in the job market, advancing their knowledge in a particular field of interests, or learning a new skill to do the job better. Sometimes they do get dragged to a training forcefully as part of their job where they have no say in what they have to learn but have no choice but to complete the training to keep a job. For example, a new education theory a school district is trying to implement and the teachers who didn't buy into this theory get trained in it. So not all adult learning situations presents self motivated adult learners. So it makes sense to think about different learning theories and chose an appropriate one for the context. I also think that, there is enough provision to include more than one aspect of the approaches in each situation. For example, we can set a course with measurable learning objective as proposed by behaviorist approach, yet can incorporate activities that promote a sense of accomplishment, a sense of self realization(as in humanistic approach) and provide an environment where these adult learners can work independently and actively engaged( as in Constructivits apporach) where they try to make sense of what they learn by reflecting on what they know and adding new knowledge to their existing knowledge.

I am also realizing that, at work I do all these without actually knowing the terminologies, but now that I know this, It is easy for me to make sure that I have included as much approaches as possible to get to the different types of learners.