Integrating Adult Learning Theory

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Integrating Adult Learning Theory

• into(Hybrid Courses)

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Adult Learning - Andragogy

• Learning in Adulthood A Comprehensive Guide
• Sharan Merriam and Rosemary Cafferella
• The Adult Learner
• Malcolm Knowles, Elwood Holton, and Richard
  Swanson

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Andragogy Principals

• Adult learners have need to know
• Adult learners have concept of self
• Adult learners build on prior experience
• Adult learners ready to learn
• Adult learners have orientation for learning
• Adult learners motivated to learn

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Education vs. Learning

• Education - educator oriented (smart instructor /
  dumb student)
• Learning - learner oriented (instructor is
  facilitator)Adult learners benefit from both
  pedagogy and andragogy

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Ancient Teachers Taught Adults

• Pedagogy art of teaching children
• Student adjusts to established curriculum
• Authoritative, uncompromising, rigid
• Andragogy art of teaching adults
• Curriculum is structured around students
  interest
• All are learners together
• Spirit of give and take

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Motivating Adults

• Appeal to adult learner interest
• Cultivate learners need / desire to know
• Show adult learners how they can enrich their
  life experiences
• Show adults learners the relevance of the material

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Types of Adult Learners

• Goal - Oriented
• Education for clear-cut objectives
• Activity - Oriented
• Learn best when problems / needs become pressing
• Learning - Oriented
• Seek knowledge for its own sake

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Attributes of Adult Learners

• The need to know how material will apply to their
  lives
• Learners self-concept is that of an independent
  personality (self directed)
• Role of experience is an important resource in
  understanding new material

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More Attributes of Adult Learners

• Readiness to learn before teacher tells them what
  they need to pass
• Internally motivated desire for increased job
  satisfaction, self-esteem, quality of life (not
  just for grades, teachers approval, parental
  pressures)

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• Authoritative teaching, examinations which
  preclude original thinking, rigid pedagogical
  formulae all these have no place in adult
  education
• Malcolm Knowles

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Adult Strategies

• Provide a climate respect trust, that is
  nonthreatening
• Expose them to need to know before instructing
  them
• Give them responsibility for choosing their own
  methods / resources

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Andragogical Assumptions

• Adult motivation comes when learning is
  life-centered
• Experience is the richest resource for learning
• Adults need to be self-directed
• Individual differences increase with age

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More Assumptions

• Adult learners should be active not passive
• Repetition is still important for retention
• Facilitators should become participant learners
• Adults have difficulty learning things that they
  see as irrelevant

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• An Autocratic atmosphere produces dependence on
  the authority Produces acquiescence in adult
  learners

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Learning Styles Research

• Tactile/Kinesthetic
• Visual
• Auditory

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Learning StylesTactile/Kinesthetic

• Hands-on, touching
• Likes the physical
• Hard to sit still / Restless
• Distracted without activity

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Learning StylesVisual

• Attention to body language and facial expression
• Thinks graphically (pictures)
• Learns from visual displays (videos, flipcharts
  and
• hand-outs)
• Takes detailed notes

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Learning StylesAuditory

• Learns through verbal lectures, discussions
• Talks things through
• Listens to others
• Interprets subtle meanings of speech (tone,
  pitch, speed).
• Reads text aloud

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What Works?(Reference Tools)

• Syllabus Work schedules Announcements
• Documents Previous Tests Grades
• Writing Guides Critical Thinking/Writing
• Evaluating Web Sites FAQ Page

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What Works?(Study Tools)

• Lecture Notes / Slide PresentationsStudy
  GuidesPractice TestsTime Lines

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What Works?(Assignment Tools)

• Writing Assignments
• Quizzes, Midterm, Final
• Case Studies

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What Works?(Assessment Tools)

• Surveys
• Class Comments
• Pretest / Posttest(Posttest imbedded in final)

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What Works?(Collaborative Learning Tools)

• e-MailBetween studentsMany letters from
  instructor (apx. 20 semi-canned / personalized)
• Government Forum
• Internship Forum
• end

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Popular Platforms?

• Web CT
• Blackboard
• EUN
• RealEd
• eCollege

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No Platform?

• Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Microsoft FrontPage

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School Server orCommercial Server

• What Web Development Tools Installed /
  Allowed?Flash? PHP Forums? CGI Scripts? Perl
  Scripts? C? (Common Gateway Interfaces) Auto
  Backup? MySQL? Full Extensions? Statistics?

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