Adult Learning Theory: Adult Learning Theory: A look at six factors that A look at six factors that influence adult learning.influence adult learning.

Nicole HillNicole HillHRD 830HRD 830

Dr. Stephen BronackDr. Stephen Bronack

IntroductionIntroduction ABOUT ME…ABOUT ME… Manager, Compensation and Benefits Manager, Compensation and Benefits

Administration for Municipal GovernmentAdministration for Municipal Government 9+ years of experience in Human 9+ years of experience in Human

ResourcesResources Job Classifications, Position Analysis, Job Classifications, Position Analysis,

Recruitment, Employee Relations, Recruitment, Employee Relations, Benefits AdministrationBenefits Administration

Hobbies- Theater, Football (Go Hobbies- Theater, Football (Go COWBOYS!), Guilty pleasure: Reality TVCOWBOYS!), Guilty pleasure: Reality TV

Why I Chose This topicWhy I Chose This topic

I feel that I have solid experience in many I feel that I have solid experience in many areas of Human Resources, but HRD is areas of Human Resources, but HRD is one area I could grow my skills with. one area I could grow my skills with. Specifically Adult Education.Specifically Adult Education.

I am trying to implement a merit pay I am trying to implement a merit pay system that will require extensive training system that will require extensive training for supervisor on multiple learning levels.for supervisor on multiple learning levels.

I see it as a challenge because the status I see it as a challenge because the status quo can make one very complacent. quo can make one very complacent.

On this topic…On this topic…

There’s tons of There’s tons of information on Adult information on Adult Learning. Much of it is Learning. Much of it is recent theory with the recent theory with the surge in interest in HRD.surge in interest in HRD.

My primary sources were My primary sources were HRD textbooks. They HRD textbooks. They were quite insightful and were quite insightful and gave good details. There gave good details. There was also quite a bit of was also quite a bit of information online as well. information online as well.

More on this topic…More on this topic…

Catch 22- One drawback that I observed in Catch 22- One drawback that I observed in the analysis of this subject was the very the analysis of this subject was the very thing that made it a great topic- the thing that made it a great topic- the abundance of information. I often felt abundance of information. I often felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information, and at times found it hard to information, and at times found it hard to see the real difference in some of the see the real difference in some of the theories surrounding adult education. theories surrounding adult education. Having too much source material can be a Having too much source material can be a hindrance when trying to formulate and hindrance when trying to formulate and stick to a smooth cohesive thought process stick to a smooth cohesive thought process on ones core topic. I found myself on ones core topic. I found myself wandering off message a few times.wandering off message a few times.

AnalysisAnalysis

In the realm of adult learning, there are In the realm of adult learning, there are endless theories for the successful endless theories for the successful facilitation of learning in both traditional and facilitation of learning in both traditional and non traditional environments. Most theories non traditional environments. Most theories bring slightly different perspectives on bring slightly different perspectives on motivating the adult learner and getting the motivating the adult learner and getting the most out of training programs geared to most out of training programs geared to adults. adults.

I would like to focus in particular on the I would like to focus in particular on the adult learning theory introduced in chapter adult learning theory introduced in chapter 20 titled Coaching for Growth and 20 titled Coaching for Growth and Development. This chapter discusses six Development. This chapter discusses six factors that influence adult learning as factors that influence adult learning as explained in the book explained in the book Developing High Developing High Performance People: The Art of Coaching Performance People: The Art of Coaching by; Mink, Owen and Minkby; Mink, Owen and Mink

Six Factors That Influence Six Factors That Influence Adult Learning Adult Learning

More learning takes place if learning is More learning takes place if learning is seen as a voluntary, self initiated activity.seen as a voluntary, self initiated activity.

More learning takes place if in a climate More learning takes place if in a climate of mutual respect.of mutual respect.

The best learning takes place in an The best learning takes place in an environment characterized by a spirit of environment characterized by a spirit of collaboration.collaboration.

Learning involves a balance between Learning involves a balance between action and self reflection.action and self reflection.

Effective coaching involves facilitation of Effective coaching involves facilitation of self reflection.self reflection.

People learn best when learning is self People learn best when learning is self directed.directed.

Key PointsKey Points

More learning takes place if learning More learning takes place if learning is seen as a voluntary, self initiated is seen as a voluntary, self initiated activity…activity…

This was the first and I think most This was the first and I think most poignant influencing factor. In most poignant influencing factor. In most trainings that I have facilitated or trainings that I have facilitated or been a participant in, it has been been a participant in, it has been crucial for the success of the training crucial for the success of the training to get people involved. This is really to get people involved. This is really best done by making it voluntary and best done by making it voluntary and engaging the participants with self engaging the participants with self directed activities.directed activities.

Continued…Continued…

The theory that more learning takes place if learning is The theory that more learning takes place if learning is seen as a voluntary, self initiated activity can be a very seen as a voluntary, self initiated activity can be a very good approach in some training environments. This would good approach in some training environments. This would work well in less structured workplaces where creativity is work well in less structured workplaces where creativity is encourage and the individual is seen as just as important encourage and the individual is seen as just as important as the whole. This would also seemingly be a good fit for as the whole. This would also seemingly be a good fit for an organization where workers are leery of authority and an organization where workers are leery of authority and tend to be less participative with a structured facilitator tend to be less participative with a structured facilitator regime. regime.

In my own organization, we have maintenance and In my own organization, we have maintenance and grounds workers whom sometimes tend to withdraw from grounds workers whom sometimes tend to withdraw from true participation due to fear of truthful disclosure to true participation due to fear of truthful disclosure to facilitator directed questions. They sometimes feel that facilitator directed questions. They sometimes feel that the questions are targeted and their answers can be used the questions are targeted and their answers can be used against them. Self directed activities would help in this against them. Self directed activities would help in this situation by making the worker be a part of the facilitation situation by making the worker be a part of the facilitation and thus helping steer the questioning and the and thus helping steer the questioning and the conversation. conversation.

ObservationObservation

I really feel that I have taken away some I really feel that I have taken away some very valuable information from completing very valuable information from completing this paper. From identifying the needs of this paper. From identifying the needs of both the participant as an adult learner to both the participant as an adult learner to becoming a stronger facilitator. I came becoming a stronger facilitator. I came across some insightful questions that across some insightful questions that teachers use in evaluating their classes, teachers use in evaluating their classes, and feel it will definitely help me in my and feel it will definitely help me in my pursuit to become a better facilitator. They pursuit to become a better facilitator. They really tie in well with the six factors that really tie in well with the six factors that influence adult learning that I based my influence adult learning that I based my paper on and are definitely a good paper on and are definitely a good reflection tool. I thought I would share them reflection tool. I thought I would share them with you…with you…

Critical QuestionsCritical Questions

To what extent does my training To what extent does my training foster critical and creative foster critical and creative thinking? thinking?

Do I encourage participants’ Do I encourage participants’ questions and curiosity? questions and curiosity?

Am I encouraging participants to Am I encouraging participants to listen and respond to the remarks listen and respond to the remarks of their peers during large and of their peers during large and small groups discussions?small groups discussions?

Do resources reflect fair, Do resources reflect fair, equitable and accurate portrayals equitable and accurate portrayals of peoples of different cultures, of peoples of different cultures, ages and genders?ages and genders?

Am I aware of how culture and Am I aware of how culture and gender influence participants’ gender influence participants’ interaction and communication interaction and communication styles? styles?

Contact meContact me

Nicole HillNicole Hill nikki2002h@aol.comnikki2002h@aol.com hilln@ci.charleston.sc.ushilln@ci.charleston.sc.us