1. National Food Service Management Institute
This training is conducted by the
National Food Service Management Institute
The University of Mississippi
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2. Adult Learning Principles
Objectives
At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:
Apply principles of adult learning.
Identify the key elements of andragogy.
Demonstrate understanding of the range of characteristics of adult learning.
Identify phases of adult development.
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3. Adult Learning Principles
Definitions
Andragogy- the art and science of helping adults learn.
Pedagogy- the art and science of helping children learn.
Adult Learner- a person more than 18 years old who seeks new skills or information and who exhibits self-direction and autonomy.
Self-direction- the opportunity for a person to determine the ways in which she will learn.
Autonomy- achieving the state of self-directed learning and independence.
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4. Adult Learning Principles
Personal Check-In: Individual Reflection
Learning Characteristics
List your last five learning experiences. Hint: Learning need not occur in a formal setting.
Beside each experience, note one way this learning impacted your personal growth.
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5. Adult Learning Principles
Personal Check-In: Individual Reflection
Physical Characteristics
1. Rank each of the following statements on a scale of 1 to 5: 5 if it is very true for you, 1 if it is totally false.
I’ve noticed that my vision is deteriorating. _____
My reaction time is slower than it was five years ago. _____
I don’t hear as well today as I did five years ago. _____
Health concerns are a major life stressor for me. _____
I seem to tire more easily than I used to. _____
I need more light to read now than when I was younger. _____
2. When you are learning, what physical, environmental, and geographic factors are important to you?
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6. Adult Learning Principles
Personal Check-In: Individual Reflection
Roles and Relationships Characteristics
Answer the following questions.
What groups have you been a part of this week?
What roles have you played in each group?
Circle the groups or roles which give you the best sense of self-esteem.
Which of these roles were in conflict this week?
Which of these roles would not have been part of your life five years ago?
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7. Adult Learning Principles
Icebreaker: Adult Learners
Things I know about adult learners…
What I need to know about adult learners…
Adult learns are different from younger learners because…
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8. Adult Learning Principles
1. Adults are motivated to learn as they develop needs
and interests generated by real life tasks or problems.
2. Adult orientation to learning is life- or work-centered.
3. Experience is the richest resource for adult learning.
4. Adults have a deep need to be self-directing.
5. Individual differences among adult learners increase
with age and experience.
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9. Adult Learning Principles
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Learning Characteristics
1. Adults continuously grow and learn.
2. Adult learning is often self-initiated and aimed at an immediate goal.
3. Adults learn and process materials in a variety of ways.
4. People have preferences in subject matter or skills.
5. Adults use only part of their intellectual potential during their lives.
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10. Adult Learning Principles
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Experiential Characteristics
No adult is the same as any other adult because each has a unique past and a unique perception of that past.
An adult’s self-concept is the product of past experiences.
Through experiences and past decisions, adults narrow the possibilities open to them in the future.
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11. Adult Learning Principles
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Physical Characteristics
The adult body enters a catabolic (breaking down) process.
Adults have habits.
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12. Adult Learning Principles
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Role and Relationship Characteristics
Adults belong to many groups and play many roles during a single day and during a lifetime.
The motivational needs of adults change in different roles with different developmental tasks. These needs affect relationships.
Adults have relationship preferences that influence their sense of self and affect decisions and actions.
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13. Adult Learning Principles
Reality Practice
Return to the Personal Check-In: Individual Reflection. In small groups, identify the characteristics which affect the adults with whom you work.
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14. Adult Learning Principles
Phases of Adult Growth
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15. Adult Learning Principles
Phases of Adult Growth
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16. Adult Learning Principles
Phases of Adult Growth
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17. Adult Learning Principles
Phases of Adult Growth
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18. Adult Learning Principles
Phases of Adult Growth
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19. Adult Learning Principles
Phases of Adult Growth
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20. Adult Learning Principles
Phases of Adult Growth
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21. Adult Learning Principles
Checking Out
1. List three characteristics which impacted your learning today. Example: physical—hard chair is uncomfortable or windows to outside help me feel less confined
2. What is one new learning about adult learners that you take away today?
3. How does your life phase affect your motivation to learn new things?
4. Explain how you will apply new knowledge about adult learning
to your work with Child Nutrition employees and other adults in the next week.
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22. National Food Service Management Institute The University of Mississippi
Mission: To provide information and services that promote the continuous improvement of child nutrition programs
Vision: To be the leader in providing education, research, and resources to promote excellence in child nutrition programs
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