Learning and teaching methods

Activity

After reading and listening to the following links and any others you have found to be useful add your thoughts to the course discussion forum Knowles' Andragogy Androgogy (Adult learning) explained Comparison between child/young adult and Adult learners Facilitating the best adult learning experiences Knowles' work has been critiqued and extended by other theorists, such as Brookfield and Mezirow, in order to clarify his ideas and bring practical application to them. Find one or more articles that discuss Knowles and other similar theorists. Think about what practical tips you might apply to your teaching practice in response to analysis of adult learning theory. An assumption in Knowles' work is that self-directedness is an innate characteristic of adults. But practitioners working in adult language, literacy and numeracy contexts recognise that they need to actively assist many adults to move from being dependent to independent learners. How might you assist learners to develop self-directed learning skills?

Reading

Read Baumgartner, 2001, Four adult development theories and their implications for practice, available online at: National Centre for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy Examine each of the four adult development theories outlined in Baumgartner Which one best matches your own philosophy of teaching? What are the implications of your alignment with this approach to your teaching and assessment practice? Discuss with colleagues in Moodle You may also wish to read the following essential reading: Brookfield, S.D., 1991, Understanding and facilitating adult learning, John Wiley & Sons Lieb, S., 1991, 'Principles of adult learning', VISION, Fall, 1991, available online at: Merlot Pedagogy

Portfolio Activity

Andragogy Write a short paragraph about any practical tips you might apply to your teaching practice in response to analysis of adult learning theory. Include methods you would use to assist learners to develop self-directed learning skills.