Ron and Susan Zemke (1981) quote from Malcolm Knowles (1973; 1990) in their article for TRAINING referring to research in the field of adult learning as a trip up the Amazon with its discovery of new species and rapids-like hazards. It was Knowles who first suggested in 1980 that adult learners differ from children and that teaching theory as it pertains to adults (andragogy) must rely on 5 basic tenets:
Self-concept
As a person matures his/her self concept moves from one of being a dependent personality toward one of being a self-directed human being.
Adult Learner Experience
As a person matures he/she accumulates a growing reservoir of experience that becomes an increasing resource for learning.
Readiness to Learn
As a person matures his/her readiness to learn becomes oriented increasingly to the developmental tasks of his/her social roles.
Orientation to Learning
As a person matures his/her time perspective changes from one of postponed application of knowledge to immediacy of application, and accordingly his/her orientation toward learning shifts from one of subject- centeredness to one of problem centeredness.
Motivation to Learn
As a person matures the motivation to learn is internal (Knowles 1984:12)
Zemke, R. and Susan. (1981) 30 things we know for sure about adult learning. Training, v18 n6 p45-46,48-49,52. Found at http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ246636
Knowles, M. S. (1973; 1990) The Adult Learner. A neglected species (4e), Houston: Gulf Publishing. 2e. 292 + viii pages.
Knowles, Malcolm S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education; From andragogy to
pedagogy. Cambridge Adult Education.
Knowles, M. S. et al (1984) Andragogy in Action. Applying modern principles of adult education, San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
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