Adult Learning Theories

Bailey CarbaughGrand Canyon University EDU: 537 Leadership and Instructional Coaching Dr. Lorise Goeke October 14, 2024

Understanding adult learning theories

Principles to Instructional Coaching

Offer a choice. While creating your PD, ensure that their is structure, but allow for the adults to have a choice in their learning. Choices can be a simple think versus writing. Objectives. Ensure that you have an objective for the Professional Development and ensure that you stay on task. You do not want adults leaving your PD feeling overwhelmed because too much was taught. You want your learners leaving having learned something. Start and End on Time. Respect your time as well as that of your learners. Ensuring that you start and end on time is is respecting yourself and that of others. People will show up on time and will enjoy the PD if you respect their time as well. Treat Learners like Adults. While yes the adults are learning something like students/children, they are not children. When teaching the learners, it is important to remember who your audience is. Ensure that the activities are engaging for adults while giving them the capability of making decisions. Remember to let go of the control, they are adults!

Teaching strategies

Pedagogy is a teacher-centered approach that focuses on teaching children and dependent learners. Andragogy is learner-centered approach that focuses on teaching adults or self-directed learners.

Difference andragogy & pedagogy

Andragogy and pedagogy are both the science of teaching; however, andragogy is the art of teaching adults who are self-directed and Pedagogy is teaching dependent learners. The teacher is the expert in pedagogy. In andragogy, the teacher is the facilitator. The learning with andragogy is more directed towards problem-solving, gain experience and self-actualization.

Andragogical strategies

The presentation can shape an audience expectation's around the performance of the speaker. This includes body language, interactivity, vocal tone, pitch, eye contact, figure of speech, language skills, rate and metaphors. There are a few strategies in which as a presenter that you can do to create an environment that reduces the impact of implicit bias. The first strategy that I would recommend would be to have an open-dialogue. Encourage communication to and from. While planning your PD, know your audience, know what their culture, background, experience and where they are coming from.

Bouchrika, Imed. (2024). The andragogy approach: knowles’ adult learning theory principles in 2024. https://research.com/education/the-andragogy-approach Hardman, Tara. (2024). 4 Instructional coaching principles to follow when helping teachers use data. https://www.nwea.org/blog/2024/4-instructional-coaching-principles-to-follow-when-helping-teachers-use-data/ Pappas, Christopher. (2013). The adult learning theory- adragogy-of malcolm knowles. https://elearningindustry.com/the-adult-learning-theory-andragogy-of-malcolm-knowles Storm, Althea. (2023). Principles of andragogy: theory, examples and implementation. https://www.thinkific.com/blog/principles-andragogy/#:~:text=Use%20real%2Dlife%20examples%20in,real%2Dlife%20examples%20as%20possible.

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Instructional Coaching is about ensuring that everyone is equal, teachers have a choice in what and how they learn. Professional learning should empower teachers and respect their voices. Ensuring that teachers have the opportunity to reflect allows the teachers to make decisions and what to reject. As an instructional coach, it is the role to encourage and empower self-improvement (Frater, 2023).

Principles that can be applied to instructional coaching

The principles can be applied to instructional coaching includes: Equality Choice Voice Dialogue Reflection And having effective communication skills

Self Concept- Maturing and growing from being dependent to a self-directed human being. Adult Learner Experience- A growing reservoir to an increase resource for learning. Readiness to Learn- Maturity leads to oriented developmental tasks of social roles. Orientation of Learning- Maturing leads to perspective changes of time. Orientation towards learning shifts from subject to problem centeredness. Motivation to Learn- Motivation to learn changes to internal. (Pappas, 2013)

Malcom Knowles' Principles

Andragogical Principles

Andragogical principles can be applied to creating and delivering professional development by ensuring that the PD that you are creating is real-life examples. Adults want a realistic expectation of how the training will impact their lives an a real expectation of what the outcome will be. When creating and delivering PD, it is important t to remember to add as many real-life situations/scenarios to the training to ensure a successful outcome for all learners. Ensuring that the PD that you are creating is hands-on with the real life examples is also vital to the success of the training (Storm, 2023)

Andragogy and the Significance

Andragogy is the science and and practice of adult learning. Andragogy learning is self-directed and hands-on. This learning theory does not rely on the instructor nor a teacher. The Andragogy approach is highly participatory with a strong focus on hands-on learning experience. It was first coined by German educator Alexander Knapp which is derivied from greek words. Eduard C. Lindeman & Martha Anderson wrote about andragogy as the real adult learning method. Lindeman and Anderson are the two who made it wide known and popular back in the 20's. In the 70's, Malcom Knowles developed the theory further. He is known for the assumptions and principles of andragogy. Knowles strengthened adult education (Bouchrika, 2024).