ADULT LEARNING PRINCIPLES Implications for Teaching, Learning & Curriculum Raja C. Bandaranayake
LEARNING A change in the potential to behave
TEACHING To facilitate learning
experience Bring in much experience
Implication Provide opportunities to share their experiences
Respond best to a non-threatening environment.
Implication Establish a good learner-teacher relationship.
Intrinsic motivation is more powerful than extrinsic motivation.
Implication Create in them a desire to learn by showing the importance of learning for professional and general life
New learning is always built on previous learning.
Implication Recapitulate relevant previous learning before exposing them to new learning.
Want to select their own learning experiences.
Implication Provide them with a variety of learning methods, when possible
questions Ask questions and seek answers
Implication Give them opportunities to ask questions, and always find means of finding answers
Prefer a problem-oriented approach to learning.
Implication Frequently pose problems for them to solve, either in groups or individually.
Learn best by doing.
Implication Give them regular mental and practical exercises for active learning.
relevance Value relevance to daily work
Implication Always show them the relevance of what they are learning at the time of learning.
Want to apply their new knowledge and skills immediately.
Implication Provide them with opportunities for application of knowledge and skills, not merely recall.
Want to contribute from their own reservoir of knowledge and skills to help others learn.
Implication Get them to teach each other.
peers Reinforced by peers
Implication Let them discuss issues themselves.
Want to assess themselves against a relevant standard to determine their educational needs. Want to know how they are progressing.
Implication Undertake regular assessment, or encourage self-assessment, which is of a truly formative nature.
feedback Encouraged by constructive feedback
Implication Always provide verbal or written feedback when they are assessed.