Adult Learning Principles PDF

MIDW 485/NURS 413: PRINCIPLES, THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF NURSE/ MIDWIFERY EDUCATION  ADULT LEARNING PRINCIPLES 09/11/2024 2  UNIT THREE: ADULT LEARNING PRINCIPLES SECTION 1: Towards a Definition SECTION 2:Characteristics of Adult Learners SECTION 3:Barriers for Adult Learnin...

MIDW 485/NURS 413: PRINCIPLES, THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF NURSE/ MIDWIFERY EDUCATION  ADULT LEARNING PRINCIPLES 09/11/2024 2  UNIT THREE: ADULT LEARNING PRINCIPLES SECTION 1: Towards a Definition SECTION 2:Characteristics of Adult Learners SECTION 3:Barriers for Adult Learning SECTION 4:Ways of Overcoming Adult Learning Barriers SECTION 5:Application of Adult Learning Principles in Nursing & Midwifery Education 09/11/2024 3  Introduction Adult is one who has achieved a self-concept of being in charge of his or her own life In traditional education system, as soon as students finish high school, they enrol in tertiary education (diploma or an undergraduate program) 09/11/2024 4  Introduction Adult learners typically do not follow the traditional education system. They are therefore considered as non-traditional students. Adult learners' group have different abilities, wide range of educational and cultural backgrounds. 09/11/2024 5  Introduction Malcolm Knowles developed a set of core adult learning principles that serve as a foundation for the instructional design and delivery of training The goal as a teacher is to: - create a learning environment that implements all these principles so that you reach all your learners 09/11/2024 6  Introduction Knowles identified six characteristics of adult learners Adult learning strategies must always address these unique characteristics of adult learners 09/11/2024 7  Principles of Adult Learning 1. The need to learn/know Adults want to know why they need to learn something and how learning will be conducted. 2. Adults are goal-oriented - Adults are ready to learn when they identify something they want to know or become proficient at, or when they experience something that connects with their goals - Instructors must show adult learners how the class relates to their goals early in the class. 09/11/2024 8  Principles of Adult Learning 3. Adults are self-directed are self-motivated and self-directed are independent and therefore want make their own decisions want to manage their own learning 09/11/2024 9  Principles of Adult Learning 4. Adults are practical/relevancy-oriented Adults are most interested in learning subjects having immediate relevant to their work and/or personal lives. They may not be interested in knowledge for knowledge’s sake but rather focus on what is most useful to them. Thus, they are more problem-centered than content- centered 09/11/2024 10  Principles of Adult Learning 5. Adults have diverse life experiences Teachers need to connect learning to that knowledge/experience base by encouraging participants to share relevant experience/knowledge. 6. Adults must be shown respect Instructors should acknowledge the abundance of experiences and knowledge participants bring to the classroom 09/11/2024 11  BARRIERS TO ADULT LEARNING 09/11/2024 12  INTRODUCTION Barriers refers to problems or challenges that prevents the adult learner from returning to or whiles continuing their formal education Adult learners have more responsibilities and experiences unlike a fresh high school student. Most of the adults are full time workers and full- time parents 09/11/2024 13 Types of Barriers Among the barriers According to Cross are: (1981), for successful Situational barriers learning to occur, Institutional barriers adult learners must Dispositional barriers overcome these barriers 09/11/2024 14 Situational barriers Mostly, adults have a huge number of responsibilities that one has to carry out at the same time. These responsibilities may be more challenging than furthering ones education. Due to an unfavourable condition in life, some adult may not want to participate in learning. These conditions could be barriers to learning. These barriers are mostly working related or family conditions. Specifically, they include: 09/11/2024 15 Situational barriers Busy work schedule: Most of the adults who are willing learn will be working to earn money Due the busy schedule at their workplace, they may not get enough time to further their studies Sometimes due to high living expenses, they may be working at more than one place. This busy schedule may lead to having limited time to allocate for studying 09/11/2024 16 Situational barriers Family and children: Although all adult learners may face this barrier, women seem to be the most affected In many societies, women are responsible for family and children They have to look after children, feeding them, taking them to school or any other house works are mainly done by the women. Some women may even have early pregnancy 09/11/2024 17 Situational barriers This is very big Some adult concern Financial learners will get for most of a good job which Others although problems: may be working, the adults will give a may not earn who want decent amount of salary after enough money to learn and pursuing a spend for their most of certificate or tuition fee. the people initial studies stop their learning process at point. 09/11/2024 18 Institutional barriers Institutional barriers consist of policies and practices created subconsciously by the institution as well as the government agencies and are frequently biased against or ignorant of the needs of adult learner (Mackeracher, Stuart and Potter, 2006) Examples of the institutional barriers include: 09/11/2024 19 Institutional barriers a) Strict schedules for paying tuition fees Institutions with very fixed dates to pay or a very short time line to pay the tuition fees pose a challenge to the adult learner Due the inadequate money or lack of time to work, adult learners may face find it challenging to pay the tuition fees. This difficulty could lead some of the learners to quit the programmes because 09/11/2024 20 Institutional barriers Such programmes pose a big Some challenge for the adult learners, b) institutions since they are Inconvenient offer full-time working to earn class programmes money. As such, schedules for the attending a full- learners. time programme seems impossible to an adult learner. 09/11/2024 21 Institutional barriers c) Non-availability of courses to meets learners needs There may be very limited number of courses available in an accessible institution. There are no wide varieties of programmes available. This could cause adult learners to stop pursuing higher or further studies 09/11/2024 22 Institutional barriers d) Lack of necessary qualification to enter the programme: Although some tertiary institutions recognizes prior leaning or working experience for mature learners, quite a number still require some prerequisite qualifications that the adult learner may not have Since the adult learners are mostly working, they may find it challenging quitting job or combining job and trying to resit exams to meet these requirements This requirement could lead to the adult learner not furthering his studies 09/11/2024 23 Institutional barriers e) Location: The location of an educational institute also plays an important role to participate adults in learning process. In many cases, the educational institutions are located in developed areas and therefore tend to benefit only to those who live in those areas. 09/11/2024 24 Dispositional barriers These barriers could also be termed Psychosocial barriers Dispositional barriers relate to the internal or personal factors that put a barrier to learn for adults Thus, they deal with the learners’ beliefs, values, attitudes and perception of him or herself in relation to learning These barriers have been shown to be far more influential in student participation and success in the teaching-learning process 09/11/2024 25 Dispositional barriers These barriers negative attitudes low-esteem and as a learner as being include: self-confidence too old negative attitudes negative attitudes towards their negative attitudes towards their situation as a as not smart situation as a learner due to enough as a learner learner is busy health problems previous negative school experience 09/11/2024 26  Overcoming Barriers To Adult Learning To overcome the barriers, learners need a collaborative efforts between Among some of the themselves, family, measures to address employers and the the barriers include: educational institutions 09/11/2024 27  Overcoming Barriers To Adult Learning Building an effective family support system An effective family support system help relieve the adult learner from most of the situational barriers Thus, issues relating to childcare, and payment of tuition fees could be easily handled When these are ensured, the adult learner tend to have adequate time to learn 09/11/2024 28  Overcoming Barriers To Adult Learning Close employee/employer relationship The adult learners and employers need to create a cordial relationship With this relationship, the employers create a positive environment for the learners to facilitate learning They may provide a flexible work schedule and also can provide study leave for the adult learners. This will encourage them to participate more in learning process. 09/11/2024 29  Provision of Childcare services -Educational institutions can provide this service for adult learners with children This would help ease the pressure of combining both learning activities and family matters OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO ADULT LEARNING 09/11/2024 30  Flexible Payment systems/Scholarships/Bursaries -Institutions have to recognise that adult learners are working people and/or looking after a family, so they cannot be compared as regular traditional learners -Owing to these numerous responsibilities, adults may find it difficult to pay their tuition when schools make rigid payment schedules OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO ADULT LEARNING 09/11/2024 31  Overcoming Barriers To Adult Learning Availability of scholarships by the institutions would also help Flexibility in the payment system or awarding scholarships would therefore help them further their education 09/11/2024 32  Overcoming Barriers To Adult Learning Alternatives to the academic entry requirements Rigid policies and regulations for traditional learners may not work for the adult learners As such educational institutions should consider prior leaning or working experience as alternative entry requirement for mature learners 09/11/2024 33  Overcoming Barriers To Adult Learning Introduction of distance learning with the technological advances Distance learning is an excellent method of teaching adult learners because they need flexibility to contend with competing priorities In this way, the busy adult learners do not have to travel to campus for lectures 09/11/2024 34  Overcoming Barriers To Adult Learning Introduction of distance learning with the technological advances They can stay at home and can study on their own and can also contact their lecturers via technology using the appropriate portals established by the educational institute. This will reduce the barriers to transport, problems of strict attendance to face to face lessons 09/11/2024 35  Overcoming Barriers To Adult Learning Flexibility in scheduling of classes The educational institutes can develop programmes that are flexible to adult learners such evening class or part – time study programmes of flexible attendance An effective communication systems are also required so that students are well informed of any rescheduled classes or programs 09/11/2024 36  Overcoming Barriers To Adult Learning Motivation by lecturers/institutions Celebrate their bravery and willingness to try Educational institutions should also have support systems like counselling units 09/11/2024 37