Motivating the Adult Learner

Motivating the Adult Learner

Another aspect of adult learning is motivation. At least six factors serve as sources of motivation for adult learning:

-Social relationships: to make new friends, to meet a need for associations and friendships.

-External expectations: to comply with instructions from someone else; to fulfill the expectations or recommendations of someone with formal authority.

-Social welfare: to improve ability to serve mankind, prepare for service to the community, and improve ability to participate in community work.

-Personal advancement: to achieve higher status in a job, secure professional advancement, and stay abreast of competitors.

-Escape/Stimulation: to relieve boredom, provide a break in the routine of home or work, and provide a contrast to other exacting details of life.

-Cognitive interest: to learn for the sake of learning, seek knowledge for its own sake, and to satisfy an inquiring mind.


COMPARISON OF ADULT LEARNERS AND CHILD LEARNERS

Adults differ from children as learners. An adult has assumed responsibility for himself/herself and others. Adults differ specifically in self-concept, experience, readiness to learn, time perspective, and orientation to learning. Traditional teaching applied to children is "jug and mug" with the big jug (the teacher) filling up the little mugs (the students). Students are asked to pay attention and have few opportunities to make use of their own experience (Klatt 1999).

The following chart identifies some key differences between children and adults as learners:

Child and Adult Learning Characteristics







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