"Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values."
The general principles and concepts that characterize how adults learn and their motivations to learn.
Andragogy: A term coined by Malcolm Knowles, Andragogy refers to the study of adult learning, including the differences between adult and child learners.
Self-directed learning: This term pertains to the adult's ability to take charge of their own learning process, as they have individual goals and motivations in learning.
Experiential learning: Experiential learning is a teaching method that involves active, hands-on experiences where learners are encouraged to make connections between their own experiences and the subject matter.
Transformational learning: Transformational learning means that the learner changes their way of thinking or perspective, in a significant way after engaging in learning.
Critical thinking: Critical thinking challenges learners to go beyond mere memorization and to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information.
Active learning: Active learning involves learning through engagement and participation, through means like problem-solving, discussions, and other activities.
Motivation: Adult learning is often self-directed, so motivation plays an important role in learning.
Cultural context: Cultural context refers to how an adult learner's cultural background and experiences can influence their learning.
Learning styles: Learning styles are the different ways in which individuals learn, like visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
Technology in learning: Technology can be a valuable tool for adult learners, allowing for online learning and more interactive and engaging instruction.
Andragogy: The concept of adult learning as a distinct process from child learning, based on the principles of self-directed learning, practicality, and relevance.
Transformational Learning: The process of becoming aware of one's assumptions and perspectives, questioning them, and transforming them into new understandings and beliefs.
Experiential Learning: Learning by doing, engaging in reflective practice, and integrating that experience into knowledge.
Self-Directed Learning: Learning that takes place when adults take responsibility for their own learning, identifying goals, and determining their own strategies for achieving them.
Social Learning: Learning that takes place through interactions with others, whether in formal or informal settings.
Connectivism: This is a learning theory that focuses on the knowledge that is created in digital environments, and how interconnectedness plays a role in that knowledge construction. It is a relatively new learning theory and is often associated with online learning and open educational resources.
Cognitive Apprenticeship: This theory emphasizes learning through expert-guided experiences and reflections on those experiences. It borrows from apprenticeship models in traditional trades where knowledge and skills are learned on the job, tutored by a master of the trade.
Active Learning: This theory emphasizes the need for learners to engage with knowledge in ways beyond passive, lecture-based teaching. Active learning can include problem-based learning, team-based learning, and other techniques that prioritize learner engagement and activity.
Pedagogy: The study of knowledge production and the process of teaching and learning in educational settings. While often associated with child learning, the term can apply to adult education, as well, particularly in instances when the teacher is more expert than the learner.
Heutagogy: This is an extension of self-directed learning theory that emphasizes learners being able to determine not just their goals and strategies for learning, but also the framework for learning itself. It is learning about learning, or being able to design one's own learning experiences.
"Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities."
"It can mean any form of learning adults engage in beyond traditional schooling, encompassing basic literacy to personal fulfillment as a lifelong learner, and to ensure the fulfillment of an individual."
"Adult education reflects a specific philosophy about learning and teaching based on the assumption that adults can and want to learn, that they are able and willing to take responsibility for the learning, and that the learning itself should respond to their needs."
"The learning happens in many ways and in many contexts just as all adults' lives differ."
"Adult learning is affected by demographics, globalization and technology."
"The oldest man to enroll in primary school in Kenya is one Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge who was an 84 year old from Kariobangi Nairobi."
"Adult learning can be in any of the three contexts, i.e.: Formal, Non-formal, Informal education."
"Formal – Structured learning that typically takes place in an education or training institution, usually with a set curriculum and carries credentials."
"Non-formal – Learning that is organized by educational institutions but non-credential. Non-formal learning opportunities may be provided in the workplace and through the activities of civil society organizations and groups."
"Informal education – Learning that goes on all the time, resulting from daily life activities related to work, family, community or leisure (e.g. community baking class)."
"The World Bank's 2019 World Development Report on The Changing Nature of Work argues that adult learning is an important channel to help readjust workers' skills to fit in the future of work."
"The World Bank's 2019 World Development Report on The Changing Nature of Work argues that adult learning is an important channel to help readjust workers' skills to fit in the future of work."
"Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values."
"Adult education reflects a specific philosophy about learning and teaching based on the assumption that adults can and want to learn, that they are able and willing to take responsibility for the learning, and that the learning itself should respond to their needs."
"Non-formal learning opportunities may be provided in the workplace and through the activities of civil society organizations and groups."
"Adult learning is affected by demographics, globalization, and technology."
"The learning happens in many ways and in many contexts just as all adults' lives differ."
"It can mean any form of learning adults engage in beyond traditional schooling, encompassing basic literacy to personal fulfillment as a lifelong learner, and to ensure the fulfillment of an individual."
"The World Bank's 2019 World Development Report on The Changing Nature of Work argues that adult learning is an important channel to help readjust workers' skills to fit in the future of work and suggests ways to improve its effectiveness."