by Ahmed Zaki

Created on: May 02, 2008

TEACHING ADULTS: ALL TOGETHER A DIFFERENT STORY IN TEACHING

Androgogy is very different from that of pedagogy. One must know the different between these two methods of teaching. Androgogy is the method for teaching adults. To be an effective teacher involves understanding how adults learn the most. Unlike children and teens, adults have different needs and requirements in their learning process. In fact, adult learning is all together a different story of study. I would explain useful tips for teaching adults in terms of the characteristics identified by Malcom Knowles.

1] Autonomous & Self-directed

Adult learners are volunteers. There is no compulsion and hence they must be free to direct themselves where the teacher actively involves in their learning process. The teacher is just a facilitator in the group learning. Adult learners have leadership and team-building capacity in most cases. Therefore, the teacher has to obtain the perspectives and willingness from learners on what topic to be discussed. Group discussions take place in autonomous groups and learning takes place in this process. The teacher facilitates their flow of learning and redirect whenever it is necessary.

2] Life experience & Knowledge

Teachers of good attitude in teaching will consider that adult learners possess a lot of experiences from their past. In the process of sharing these life experiences create ways for a very high degree of learning. This also helps sustenance of motivation level which is the key to absorption rate. Evaporation happens at the time of demotivation.

3] Goal - oriented

Most commonly, adult learners know what they need to achieve in the learning process. Therefore, there is no need for teachers' spoon feeding at this level. They would always need to make the best use of time. The facilitator (teacher) should be well prepared and should not leave anything in the middle for tomorrow. The teacher has to drive them in their self-determined speed towards attainment.

4]Relevance

It is always the best thing to ask from them if it is relevant for their current requirement. Adults learn in terms of their current requirements. Anything that is relevant for their needs should be covered in depth. Therefore, a participative decision would be the best way to go by the teachers whoever who undertakes the duty to teach adults.

5] Practicality

The teacher has to look at all aspects of lesson's relevance to their work. The sessions, therefore, should be very practical. Activities should be linked with their work. The participants may share their experiences and tacit knowledge in the discussion forum. Oral presentations and activity-based leveled learning activities would be very necessary.

6] Respect

Among adults there come people from different professions. They respect and expect to be respected. One who is teaching should be well aware of the fact that respect matters for them. The learning process takes place in a very formal & respectful manner.

Among all these, motivation, reinforcement, retention and transference are very crucial in adult learning or in any learning process. It is very important to provide opportunities for learners to apply their knowledge and experience in different contexts. This way of transference of knowledge has a great deal of learning in the process.

Learn more about this author, Ahmed Zaki.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.