Understanding Adult Learning: Principles, Strategies, and Applications

This assignment delves into the principles of adult learning, focusing on six key areas: internal motivation and self-direction, the value of prior experience, goal and relevancy orientation, and the need for practical application and respect. The paper emphasizes the importance of connecting new knowledge with existing knowledge, encouraging reflective analysis, and creating a sense of relevance to the learners' lives. It also highlights the significance of understanding the adult learner's worldview and the benefits of a hands-on, real-world approach. The assignment suggests that a curriculum with minimal textbook interventions and a focus on practical applications can be effective. Moreover, it underscores the importance of reflective exercises and the power of questions to enhance the learning process. The provided bibliography cites sources that support these principles and strategies.

You can teach new tricks to a seasoned player just follow six cardinal rules
As a teacher adults can be an easy subject to handle if we abide by six cardinal principles. The
first principle says that “Adults are internally motivated and self-directed.” As teacher, one
should act like a bridge between their existing knowledge and new knowledge that they are
going to gain. The second principle deals with the fact that “adults bring life experiences and
knowledge into a learning experience.” On a psychological level education at this age can be
considered as “a journey to remove unconscious biases.” This factor can be studied along with
the third and fourth principle that says “Adults are goal and relevancy oriented.”
The goal and relevancy can be addressed well by introducing a reflective analysis into the
pedagogical activities. Certain anecdotes can be introduced into the class for converting a regular
lesson into a slice of life tale. Adults often follow a tendency where they try to prefix the results
of learning. The technique of answer first and question later can be adopted here. Adults can be
informed about the practical application of the learning in the real world (Darlo, 2016).
We should never forget two facts about the adults, they are practical and they command respect,
instead of teaching them, a teacher should try to redirect them towards the subject. Teachers
often find it difficult to handle the kids in the field of learning because of their limited world
view. However, in the case of adults they can take advantage of the fact that adults have a wider
and well-developed world view (Cobb, 2016).
The analysis of six principles can help us in the development of a universal strategy of educating
adults. According to this strategy, a curriculum based on lesser textbook interventions and more
hands-on, real-world application can work well with the adults if a teacher can create a sense of
relevancy within their minds. The pedagogical approach to teach adults should be more of a

reflective exercise rather than a learning exercise. Their reflections on the topic will allow them
to explore the subject under the light of their experiences; they will come up with more poignant
questions. The inclusion of relevance and reflection will support their learning curve and help
them in extracting more from a given lesson.

Bibliography
Cobb, J. (2016). Applying the 6 Key Adult Learning Principles to Yourself. www.missiontolearn.com ,
(Online) Retrieved from :https://www.missiontolearn.com/adult-learning-principles/. Accessed
10-9-19.
Darlo. (2016). Malcolm Knowles’ 6 Adult Learning Principles. Darlo ‘s blog, (Online) Retrieved from:
https://darlohighereducation.com/news/malcolmknowles6adultlearningprinciples/. Accesed 10-
9-19.