Understanding Adult Learning Theories

Understanding Adult Learning Theories

Ruben Nunez College of Education, Grand Canyon University EDU-537: Leadership and Instructional Coaching Professor Jamie Petrilla December 14, 2022

Malcolm Knowles' Principles of Andragogy

Differences

Encourage Reflection, Not Compliance

• Instructional coaches recognize that adult learners are self-motivated (Bethea, 2019)
• Instructional coaches recognize that adult learners are autonomous learners
• Instructional coaches trust in the adult learner's ability and readiness to solve problems and complete assignments without the expectation of a reward
• Instructional coaches understand the importance of refelection because it helps the adult learner connect what they have learned to their past experiences (Bethea, 2019).

Applying Knowles to Instructional Coaching

Andragogy Experience - Adults come with experiences ready to integrate with new knolwedge Self-Directedness - Autonomous learners Need to Know - Adults have a better sense of what they nee to know Readiness to Learn - Equipped to learn Orientaiton to Learning -Learn information with immediate need to apply it Intrinsic Motivation - Adults are intrinsically motivated to learn, and do not expect a reward or avoid punishment (Conaway, 2015).

Pedagogy Experience - Teachers are responsible for creating concrete experiences Self-Directedness - Requires strict guidelines Need to Know - Students are told what they need to know Readiness to Learn - Child not equipped to learn Orientaiton to Learning - Children learn without immediate need to apply skills or knowledge Intrinsic Motivation - Children rely on extrinsic motivation to learn, which is the expectation of an external reward or punishment (Conaway, 2015).

Focus on Stengths

• Allow the learner to master his strengths
• Implimenting too many strategies at once will overwhelm the learner and only stunt thier growth (Racines, 2019).

Build Relationships

• Provide timely and focused feedback
• Focus on the postive
• Focus on achievements
• Keep the learner at the center of the process
• Make the effort to accomodate the learner's needs and see that you create a comfortable learning environment that promotes positive feelings (McGrath, 2019).

Engaging Andragogical Strategies for Coaching the Adult Learner

Use Real-Word Experiences to Drive Learning

• Make learning activities task-oriented
• Make learning activities problem-solving-oriented (Adult Readiness, 2019).

Teaching Strategies for Coaching the Adult Learner

Make Learning Relevant to the Environment

• Use current learning as an opportunity to connect the content with the learner's past experiences
• Create a hyopthetical dilemma or crisis that supports real-world application of the instructional content (Adult Readiness, 2019).

References

Adult Learning Theory. (2019). Navy Fleet and Family Readiness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk6QFlUYrkE

Bethea, K. (2019). 5 ways to improve instructional coaching today. eSchool News. https://www.eschoolnews.com/2019/05/21/5-ways-to-improve-instructional-coaching-today/

Conaway, W., & Zorn-Arnold, B. (2015). The Keys to Online Learning for Adults. Distance Learning, 12(4), 37–42.

McGrath, S., & Hale, C. (2019). 5 Relationship-Building Tips for Instructional Coaches. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-relationship-building-tips-instructional-coaches

Racines, D. (2019). Strategies for Instructional Coaching. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/4-tips-instructional-coaches