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Adult learner

January 01, 1970

An adult learner or, more commonly, a mature student, is a person who is older and is involved in forms of learning. Adult learners fall in a specific criterion of being experienced, and do not always have a high school diploma. Many of the adult learners go back to school to finish a degree, or earn a new one.[1]

Malcolm Knowles's work distinguished adult learners as distinct from adolescent and child learners in his principle of andragogy.[2] He established 5 assumptions about the adult learner. This included self-concept, adult learner experience, readiness to learn, orientation to learning, and motivation to learning.[1]

Criteria edit

In the US, adult learners fall into the category of nontraditional students.[1] They have a wide range of cultural, job, and educational backgrounds.[2]

In the UK, a student is normally classified as a mature student if they are an (undergraduate) student who is at least 25+ years old at the start of their course, or in the Irish case on the first of January of the year of entry, and usually having been away from school for at least two years.[1] The normal entry requirements for school-leavers wishing to start an undergraduate degree are often not applied to mature students.[1]

In higher education edit

The impact of a rapidly changing society is reflected in the growing number of adults engaged in a formal part-time course of study at an institution of higher education.

Studies have shown that during the last few decades, there has been a shift from postsecondary degree seekers, from traditional student to a more diverse population who normally work part-time, full-time and/or have family commitments. This phenomenon has created a larger bank of adult learners who attend colleges and who face a myriad of challenges committing to their education.[3]

Adult students are frequently referred to as nontraditional students in higher education. Adult students are contrasted with traditional students, who are typically under 25, attend full-time, do not work full-time when enrolled in courses, and have few, if any, family responsibilities.[4] In 2008, 36 percent of postsecondary students were age 25 or older and 47 percent were independent students.[5]

Special characteristics edit

Adult learners are considered “in a state of transition”, trying to improve themselves by achieving a higher level of education in order to move up in the professional environment.  Their expectations are greater than those of a traditional student, because they have a better idea of what they want and what they expect from their education.  However, they also have higher levels of anxiety and pressure to fulfill the required expectations in a shorter amount of time, while navigating other responsibilities.[6]

Adult learners typically have more life experiences. When confronted with new knowledge or an experience, adult learners construe new meaning based on their greater life experiences.[7]

Potential challenges faced by adult learners edit

There are many challenges faced by adult learners such as family commitments, work, financial barriers, lack of time, support, and a clear understanding of how to balance it all, especially if they still would like to have some kind of social life.[8]

Another big challenge is the ever changing technological world in which we now live. For an adult learner who is past their 40s, they grew up in a world where our dependency in technology was nonexistent. Distant learning was something that was not available, but it is now one of the main sources of adult education.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Special Analysis 2002 – Nontraditional Undergraduates April 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b "Who is the Adult Learner?". Southern Regional Education Board. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  3. ^ Osam, E. Kobena; Bergman, Matt; Cumberland, Denise M. (2017-05-01). "An Integrative Literature Review on the Barriers Impacting Adult Learners' Return to College". Adult Learning. 28 (2): 54–60. doi:10.1177/1045159516658013. ISSN 1045-1595. S2CID 148259081.
  4. ^ Pascarella, Ernest T.; Terenzini, Patrick T (Winter 1998). "Studying College Students in the 21st Century: Meeting New Challenges". The Review of Higher Education. 21 (2): 151. doi:10.1353/rhe.1998.a30045. S2CID 142073525.
  5. ^ (PDF). Center for Law and Social Policy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  6. ^ Conrad, Judy (October 1993). "Educating Part-Time Adult Learners in Transition" (PDF). Striving for Excellence: The National Education Goals. II: 85–86 – via ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education.
  7. ^ Merriam, S. B., & Caffarella, R. S., & Baumgartner, L. M. (2007). Learning in adulthood (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  8. ^ "The Challenges Of Being An Adult Learner And How To Overcome Them". careerfoundry.com. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  9. ^ "5 Technology Challenges Faced By Adult Learners". eLearning Industry. 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2020-03-24.

Further reading edit

  • Brookfield, S. D. (1991). Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning: A Comprehensive Analysis of Principles and Effective Practices. 2nd edition. Jossey-Bass.
  • Crimaldi, Laura, "Older residents follow Pathway to college", Boston Herald, Sunday, January 4, 2009. About students successes in the College Pathways program at ABCD Learning Works in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Galbraith, M. W. (2004). Adult learning methods: a guide for effective instruction. 3rd edition. Krieger Publishing.
  • Rogers, Alan, Non-formal Education: Flexible Schooling or Participatory Education?, Springer, 2005. ISBN 0-387-24636-3

External links edit

  • Adult Learners and New Traditions in Higher Education 2008-12-04 at the Wayback Machine— WorldWideLearn.com
  • National Center for Education Statistics
  • BBC Bitesize with websites including Skillswise and

January 01, 1970
adult, learner, this, article, written, like, personal, reflection, personal, essay, argumentative, essay, that, states, wikipedia, editor, personal, feelings, presents, original, argument, about, topic, please, help, improve, rewriting, encyclopedic, style, j. This article is written like a personal reflection personal essay or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor s personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style July 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message An adult learner or more commonly a mature student is a person who is older and is involved in forms of learning Adult learners fall in a specific criterion of being experienced and do not always have a high school diploma Many of the adult learners go back to school to finish a degree or earn a new one 1 Malcolm Knowles s work distinguished adult learners as distinct from adolescent and child learners in his principle of andragogy 2 He established 5 assumptions about the adult learner This included self concept adult learner experience readiness to learn orientation to learning and motivation to learning 1 Contents 1 Criteria 2 In higher education 3 Special characteristics 4 Potential challenges faced by adult learners 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksCriteria editIn the US adult learners fall into the category of nontraditional students 1 They have a wide range of cultural job and educational backgrounds 2 In the UK a student is normally classified as a mature student if they are an undergraduate student who is at least 25 years old at the start of their course or in the Irish case on the first of January of the year of entry and usually having been away from school for at least two years 1 The normal entry requirements for school leavers wishing to start an undergraduate degree are often not applied to mature students 1 In higher education editThe impact of a rapidly changing society is reflected in the growing number of adults engaged in a formal part time course of study at an institution of higher education Studies have shown that during the last few decades there has been a shift from postsecondary degree seekers from traditional student to a more diverse population who normally work part time full time and or have family commitments This phenomenon has created a larger bank of adult learners who attend colleges and who face a myriad of challenges committing to their education 3 Adult students are frequently referred to as nontraditional students in higher education Adult students are contrasted with traditional students who are typically under 25 attend full time do not work full time when enrolled in courses and have few if any family responsibilities 4 In 2008 36 percent of postsecondary students were age 25 or older and 47 percent were independent students 5 Special characteristics editAdult learners are considered in a state of transition trying to improve themselves by achieving a higher level of education in order to move up in the professional environment Their expectations are greater than those of a traditional student because they have a better idea of what they want and what they expect from their education However they also have higher levels of anxiety and pressure to fulfill the required expectations in a shorter amount of time while navigating other responsibilities 6 Adult learners typically have more life experiences When confronted with new knowledge or an experience adult learners construe new meaning based on their greater life experiences 7 Potential challenges faced by adult learners editThere are many challenges faced by adult learners such as family commitments work financial barriers lack of time support and a clear understanding of how to balance it all especially if they still would like to have some kind of social life 8 Another big challenge is the ever changing technological world in which we now live For an adult learner who is past their 40s they grew up in a world where our dependency in technology was nonexistent Distant learning was something that was not available but it is now one of the main sources of adult education 9 References edit a b c d e Special Analysis 2002 Nontraditional Undergraduates Archived April 16 2007 at the Wayback Machine a b Who is the Adult Learner Southern Regional Education Board 10 December 2015 Retrieved 2017 06 21 Osam E Kobena Bergman Matt Cumberland Denise M 2017 05 01 An Integrative Literature Review on the Barriers Impacting Adult Learners Return to College Adult Learning 28 2 54 60 doi 10 1177 1045159516658013 ISSN 1045 1595 S2CID 148259081 Pascarella Ernest T Terenzini Patrick T Winter 1998 Studying College Students in the 21st Century Meeting New Challenges The Review of Higher Education 21 2 151 doi 10 1353 rhe 1998 a30045 S2CID 142073525 Yesterday s Nontraditional Student is Today s Traditional Student PDF Center for Law and Social Policy Archived from the original PDF on 2013 05 10 Retrieved 2010 08 09 Conrad Judy October 1993 Educating Part Time Adult Learners in Transition PDF Striving for Excellence The National Education Goals II 85 86 via ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education Merriam S B amp Caffarella R S amp Baumgartner L M 2007 Learning in adulthood 3rd ed San Francisco Jossey Bass The Challenges Of Being An Adult Learner And How To Overcome Them careerfoundry com 26 March 2018 Retrieved 2020 03 24 5 Technology Challenges Faced By Adult Learners eLearning Industry 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2020 03 24 Further reading editBrookfield S D 1991 Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning A Comprehensive Analysis of Principles and Effective Practices 2nd edition Jossey Bass Crimaldi Laura Older residents follow Pathway to college Boston Herald Sunday January 4 2009 About students successes in the College Pathways program at ABCD Learning Works in Boston Massachusetts Galbraith M W 2004 Adult learning methods a guide for effective instruction 3rd edition Krieger Publishing Rogers Alan Non formal Education Flexible Schooling or Participatory Education Springer 2005 ISBN 0 387 24636 3External links editAdult Learners and New Traditions in Higher Education Archived 2008 12 04 at the Wayback Machine WorldWideLearn com National Center for Education Statistics BBC Bitesize with websites including Skillswise and raw Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Adult learner amp oldid 1214572258, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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