Compare Traditional and Adult Learners The learning styles of the traditional learner and the adult learner are different. The adult learning theory of Malcolm Knowles, also known as anadragogy, explains how the adult learner learns information (Pappas, 2013). This theory can be used in many contexts, such as the classroom, workforce development, and the workplace, and this paper explains the difference between these two types of learners and gives examples of how to use the adult learning theory in practical applications in the workplace.
How Learning Styles for the Traditional and Adult Learners Differ Figure 1. Differences between the learning styles of the traditional and the adult learner. Information from Merriam and Bierema (2014). …show more content…
These learners know how they want to learn and the goals they want to achieve, and they will use strategies that will help them meet their goals (Hagen & Park, 2016). They want to be part of the learning process, and they will self-evaluate, improve their process, and define their goals through self-reflection (Hagen & Park, 2016). An example of allowing the adult learner to participate in their learning experience is to let the learner choose an assignment, and it has been suggested that the actual choosing of the assignment may not be the reason for the learning but the process of choosing the assignment maybe where the learning occurs (Hagen & Park, 2016). The traditional learner is a dependent learner, and they are told when and how to learn (Merriam & Bierema, …show more content…
When converting to a new computer system, there will be training that needs to occur. The reason why the conversion is occurring will help promote the change and allow the learners to see why learning the new system is important. For example, the new platform will allow users to access student information, advising information, department’s budget, and etc. Since the old platform has to be coded each year in order for the changes to occur for the year, the new system will increase productivity, and there will be less down time of the system. By explaining the reason for the change, it will give the learner the reason for why the learning of the new system is beneficial. Adult learners want to know the reason why they are learning something new, and by notifying the learner before the learning occurs, this will also increase their motivation to learn (Merriam & Bierema, 2014). The new system will allow multiple resources to be accessed from one platform. By explaining to the learners that it will make their daily activities easier and faster because they will only have to login to one resource instead of multiple resources, this will give the learner internal motivation and a readiness to learn. The internal motivation will come into effect because the learner will want to learn something that will benefit them and make their work experience more enjoyable. Adult learners want to learn things
How Learning Styles for the Traditional and Adult Learners Differ Figure 1. Differences between the learning styles of the traditional and the adult learner. Information from Merriam and Bierema (2014). …show more content…
These learners know how they want to learn and the goals they want to achieve, and they will use strategies that will help them meet their goals (Hagen & Park, 2016). They want to be part of the learning process, and they will self-evaluate, improve their process, and define their goals through self-reflection (Hagen & Park, 2016). An example of allowing the adult learner to participate in their learning experience is to let the learner choose an assignment, and it has been suggested that the actual choosing of the assignment may not be the reason for the learning but the process of choosing the assignment maybe where the learning occurs (Hagen & Park, 2016). The traditional learner is a dependent learner, and they are told when and how to learn (Merriam & Bierema, …show more content…
When converting to a new computer system, there will be training that needs to occur. The reason why the conversion is occurring will help promote the change and allow the learners to see why learning the new system is important. For example, the new platform will allow users to access student information, advising information, department’s budget, and etc. Since the old platform has to be coded each year in order for the changes to occur for the year, the new system will increase productivity, and there will be less down time of the system. By explaining the reason for the change, it will give the learner the reason for why the learning of the new system is beneficial. Adult learners want to know the reason why they are learning something new, and by notifying the learner before the learning occurs, this will also increase their motivation to learn (Merriam & Bierema, 2014). The new system will allow multiple resources to be accessed from one platform. By explaining to the learners that it will make their daily activities easier and faster because they will only have to login to one resource instead of multiple resources, this will give the learner internal motivation and a readiness to learn. The internal motivation will come into effect because the learner will want to learn something that will benefit them and make their work experience more enjoyable. Adult learners want to learn things