Adult learning development

But adult education happens every day, and there are many important reasons why adults may pursue education. Adult learning is very common in the United States, and these students may sometimes be called non-traditional students in some colleges or universities. For most adults, pursuing education is a combination of a desire for self-improvement, a need to learn specific skills, and a want to improve job possibilities. Colleges like WGU are focused on helping adult learners. The theories and techniques for adult education help millions of adult students find success as they continue their learning and growth.

What motivates an adult to learn: curiosity or a simple need to know? Educational researchers have come up with an array of answers to that question over the years. Adult learning theories are based on the premise that adults learn differently than children. Here are some basic differences:. Over the last century, a number of adult learning theories have gained prominence. You can study the theories to gain insight into what motivates adults to learn, and use this knowledge as a building block for your instructional design efforts. Developed by Malcolm Knowles in , andragogy is described by its creator as the art and science of helping adults learn.

Every trainer's ambition is to make corporate learning as impactful and engaging as possible. But how? One method to master great training and course creation is by understanding how your learner's mind works. Adult Learning Theory, also known as andragogy is a concept that has been around for years.

We often take for granted that people know how to learn. After all, we all had to learn while in school, right? But that can be a dangerous attitude to take when it comes to corporate training initiatives. Have you ever considered whether adults learn in the same way? Knowing how adults tend to learn, you can tailor corporate training programs to take advantage of qualities adult learners have—like their eagerness to learn relevant material, their need to connect with experience, and their motivation to improve themselves.