1. CAE 213 Introduction to Adult Education
The Adult Learner p
CAE 213
Introduction to Adult Education

2. The Adult Learner The Learner’s Need to Know
The Self-Concept of the Learner
Prior Experience of the Learner
Readiness to Learn
Orientation to Learning
Motivation to Learn

3. The Adult Learner The Learner’s Need to Know
Adults need to know why they need to learn something before undertaking to learn it. One of the first task of an adult educator is to help learners become aware of their “need to know.” A great example of how this can be done was the “consciousness raising” of Paulo Freire in The Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

4. The Adult Learner The Learner’s Need to Know
The Self-Concept of the Learner
Adults have a self-concept of being responsible for their own decisions, for their own lives. Once they have arrived at that self-concept, they resent and resist situations in which they feel others are imposing their will on them.

5. The Adult Learner The Learner’s Need to Know
The Self-Concept of the Learner
Prior Experience of the Learner
The richest resources for learning reside in adult learners themselves. However, accumulated experience may close adult minds to new perspectives. Adult educators try to discover ways to help adults examine their biases and open their minds to new approaches.

6. The Adult Learner The Learner’s Need to Know
The Self-Concept of the Learner
Prior Experience of the Learner
Readiness to Learn
Adults become ready to learn those things they need to know and be able to do in order to cope effectively with real life situations. It is not necessary to sit passively and wait for readiness to develop in learners. Learners can purposely seek real life situations that position them to develop a readiness to learn.

7. The Adult Learner The Learner’s Need to Know
The Self-Concept of the Learner
Prior Experience of the Learner
Readiness to Learn
Orientation to Learning
Adult are motivated to learn to the extent that they perceive that learning will help them perform tasks and deal with problems that they will confront in life.

8. The Adult Learner The Learner’s Need to Know
The Self-Concept of the Learner
Prior Experience of the Learner
Readiness to Learn
Orientation to Learning
Motivation to Learn
Adults are responsive to external motivators (better jobs, promotions, etc.), but the most powerful motivators are internal pressures (job satisfaction, self-esteem, quality of life).