Philosophy
The essence of my philosophy on training, from the perspective of an instructor, is that the following five principles are critical to the process of engaging adult learners in any training program.
First has been (and continues to be) that adult learners have to feel like the training/intervention/program etc has meaning for them in order for them to buy into it. Malcolm Knowles understood andragogy, and how and why, to be an effective trainer, it is so important to understand adult learners and their need for the training. In fact Knowles, who is referred to as the father of adult learning theory, based his theory on six assumptions (Knowles 2005):
1. Adults have a need to know why they should learn something before investing the time in a learning event;
2. Adults enter any learning situation with an image of themselves as self-directing, responsible grown-ups. Therefore trainers must help adults identify their needs and direct their own learning experiences.
3. Adults come to a learning opportunity with a wealth of life experiences, and thus have a great deal to contribute and should be allowed to share their knowledge and experiences.
4. Adults have a strong readiness to learn those things that are relevant and directly related to their needs.
5. Adults are more responsive to internal motivators.
© 2019 Rhonda L Foster. All Rights Reserved.
