Adult Leaning Principles
After Malcolm Knowles. Knowles, Malcolm Shepherd. The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species. Fourth edition. Huston, TX: Gulf Publishing Company, 1990.
Adult Learning Principles seek to make learning effective, efficient, relevant and enjoyable.
- Be Problem Centered vs. Subject Centered: Adults prefer to focus on current, existing problems rather than abstract concepts. Course designs should emphasize the 'need to know' rather than the 'nice to know'.
- Show Immediate Application: Adults view learning as a benefit only if it can be quickly applied to real world problems.
- Build on Previous Experience: Adults bring vast experience to a course on which to build new understandings.
- Encourage Learner Control: Adults want control over their learning, with the instructor used as a facilitator, not just an expert.
- Require Active Participation: Adults learn best when they are involved, and learning by doing. Course designs should include numerous activities.
- Use Whole-Part-Whole Learning: Present the 'big picture', move to details, then return to the whole to show how the parts relate to the whole.
- Point Out Associations: Note previous experiences so learners can bridge past learning to new, building upon known information and skills.
- Holistic Thinking: Use analytical thinking to make deductions and explore detail, then intuitive thinking to make inductions and explore the whole.
- Recognize Individual Differences: Adults learn at different rates and in different ways.
- Emphasize Time on Task: Active, involved adults learn best, therefore design lectures that are no longer than 10-15 minutes before learners get to practice or apply.
- Provide Meaningful Instructional Cues: Provide learners with clear instructions, desired results and information on how they will be evaluated.
- Check For Understanding: Learning is enhanced when the instructor checks frequently with learners to ensure their progress.
- Give Timely Feedback: Learners progress faster when they know what was done well and where to improve.
