Introduction
The world is pursuing higher education more than any other generation. Even senior professionals who are in higher management roles are increasingly understanding the importance of higher education and seeking to pursue their academics. After the recent disruptions like the pandemic, wars, and economic crisis many professionals have understood how vulnerable their jobs are. They are actively seeking higher educational qualifications to stay at the top of the corporate hierarchy. As a result, many universities are opening up to these professionals by offering adult education and loosening their restrictions and rules for these learners. The problem is, most of the educational systems that are designed for younger learners don't appeal to adult learners. They need a different teaching methodology or learning patterns as opposed to younger learners who are less experienced.
Who are adult learners?
Generally, those above 25 years of age who pursue any form of education are considered adult learners. These can be students in universities, profession-related training, online institutions, etc. However, most commonly adult learners are those coming back to college to finish their degrees or pursue a new degree while working.
Some points to consider about adult learners
1. They are busy
Senior learners are normally busy and have full-time jobs and families to attend to. They have a busy work schedule that takes away their precious time. Generally, all adult learners will spend 1/3 of their time in their jobs. If we consider another one-third of their day spent sleeping, this leaves them with only 1/3 of a day to attend to their other matters. In that time, the travelling time from and to their workplace is also included.
2. The current education system is not designed for senior learners
If you take a look at most universities, they are targeted towards younger learners. Their teaching styles are also inclined towards younger learners. On the other hand, edtech companies are mostly dedicated to K12 model schoolgoers. Even game-based learning platforms like Duolingo and Skillshare are dedicated towards skills and not on formal adult education. Senior professionals are more mature than the target audience of most universities and edtech companies. Hence, there is a void in the current education system where senior learners are uncomfortable and ignored for their specific learning needs.
3. They want immediate results
Adult learners are looking for intermediate results through their learning. Unlike other younger learners, their motivation to learn is to apply what they learn in the real world as soon as possible. While a younger learner might be learning to program for a future job, adult learners often engage in learning programming because they need to immediately use it. This application-oriented learning sets them apart from others. For these, the traditional approach does not work. Purely result-oriented teaching and learning methods are needed. The focus must be on real-world applications rather than on cramming or learning theory.
4. They have commitments
Unlike most younger learners, adult learners are always committed. Whether it is with their family, personal and professional goals, or their hobbies, interests, and volunteering, adult learners are always vigilant and busy with their time. For them, traditional full-time college does not appeal because of their commitments and shortage of free time. A full-time job, as mentioned earlier, takes up one-third of their day. This is not the case with younger learners. They have the time to attend not only full-time college but also take up tuition and additional classes!
5. They have a different learning structure
There is a misconception even in learned professionals’ circles that the brain stops functioning at its peak capacity once it reaches a certain age. This indirectly points out that adult learners have a hard time learning after a certain age. Nothing is further from the truth though. Learning to be effective, the learner needs to be curious and have a strong reason to remember what they are going to learn. These are the most important prerequisites of learning for anyone. For younger learners, curiosity is second nature. As a result, they are intrigued by how the world works and are more receptive to new information.
However, most individuals stop learning after a certain age i.e, after schooling in particular. They stop becoming curious and settle inside a small world where they are familiar with everything. They stick to a small set of skills, people, and situations. This takes out their curiosity factor. Hence, to learn as an adult, you need more curiosity and a strong reason to learn. The latter can be anything in your professional or personal interest. Whatever the reason, starting with a why and being intrigued by the subject are the keys to effective learning for adults.
6. Results must be immediately applicable
For adult learners, the results of their learning must be immediately applicable. The "Why" precedes and drives their learning. Without any application, the information learned by an adult learner is immediately forgotten or distorted. Moreover, as adult learners are busier with their commitments, spending time on learning is a massive investment. They make sure that if they learn something, it is worth their time and effort. Anything irrelevant to their life or career, unhelpful in their social life is never worth their efforts.
For example, a senior IT manager learns a new programming language only if it helps them advance in their career or makes it easier for them to work every day. If the programming language is outdated and irrelevant to their industry, then there is no point in spending months trying to learn the language. This of course excludes those who learn languages out of curiosity, as a hobby, or as a supplement to their wealth of knowledge.
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What clicks for senior learners?
For all these reasons, adult learners need a very different approach to learning. Educational institutions must keep in mind all these points while they teach adult learners. Hence the question arises, what clicks for an adult learner? Thankfully, the adult learning theory tries to answer this question. Though based on assumptions, it is practical and used in many institutions around the world.
1. Andragogy
The Adult Learning Theory which was popularised by Malcolm Knowles is a framework in modern adult education (Source: Wikipedia). Though the theory is based on assumptions, it is highly practical and relevant in today's adult learning trend. The theory assumes that the adult learner
Need to know the reason for their learning
Must have prior experience in the field to build upon
Must be a self-aware entire learning process
Must be willing to learn those subjects that resonate with their immediate surroundings
The orientation of the learner must be more on the problem than on the content
And finally, adults respond to internal motivators better than external motivators.
Based on these assumptions, the theory gives a framework for adult learners and educators to follow. This consists of another six principles which are further derived from these assumptions. Let us take a look at them for a better understanding of the adult learners' mindset. All these emphasise that adult learning is set upon comprehension, organisation and synthesis of knowledge rather than on memorisation or rote learning.
Adults learn only when they feel there is a need to learn - the practical application of what they learn is a decisive factor in adult learning. They learn by keeping the end in their minds. How the learning will help them is fast and more important to them than the process.
Adults learn by doing - although learning by doing is effective even for adolescents, adults learn and understand through the active application, practice, and participation. This approach integrates the learned skills into an adult's life.
Problem-solving is the focus of adult learning - adults start with a specific problem in their minds and continue learning by finding a solution to that problem. They need engagement and communication to learn deeper. As a result, their knowledge will be elaborate and last longer than adolescents or children.
Experience affects adult learning - typically, adults are highly experienced in all aspects of their lives. As a result, preconceived ideas will have a say in the quality of their learning. If their prior experience is based on inaccurate information, it can interfere with present-day learning. Likewise, accurate information makes it easier for them to learn.
Conventional educational settings have little appeal to adults - adult learners like an inclusive, collaborative, and networking environment and become active participants in their learning process. They like to take responsibility for their own learning.
Adults want guidance as equal partners in their learning - they want to improve their situation through information. Following a set pattern of the curriculum is of little use in adult learning. Adults want to choose options according to their individual needs and the impactful engagement the learning process can give. Socialisation is more important than curriculum or rigid teaching patterns.
Finally, for adult learners to succeed, they must be interested in the subject or need to learn the subject. Any institution that employs the above-mentioned principles in its teaching strategies can help adult learners reach their true academic potential easily. Thankfully, the UK higher education system is one such system designed for senior learners.
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2. Assignment-based education
The education system of the United Kingdom is one of the most respected systems in the world for a reason (Source: Wikipedia). Especially in the higher education system, the UK excels at making its learners use their expertise, thinking, and writing processes to enhance their learning process. Assignments provide an opportunity to excel in all these areas of an individual's intellect and make them globally relevant. After all, the purpose of education itself is to make the learner a thinking creature. This, in turn, helps him make better decisions and solve problems effectively and efficiently through it.
The assignment-based education system also helps a learner to enhance their writing skills by expressing themselves in words. This can affect their communication skills positively and makes them better communicators both orally and through writing. So all in all, assignment-based education particularly helps senior learners by challenging their intellect in several ways. Unlike memorization, the priority given to enhancing a learner's thought process makes it a better system for adult learners. For all these reasons adult learners need differences in learning and teaching.
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3. The SNATIKA pedagogy
SNATIKA is an online platform founded during the pandemic era. It provides UK Masters degree programs to senior professionals who need them. By definition, SNATIKA, serves only adult learners i.e, senior professionals with managerial experience in making their European Masters degree dreams a reality. SNATIKA follows the same approach as discussed above to help our senior learners succeed and excel in their academics. The SNATIKA pedagogy is developed by PhD-level educationists who have decades of experience in the educational industry. We employ both andragogy and assignment-based learning in our European Masters degree programs. It makes us a speciality online platform for global aspirants of UK Masters degree programs.
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Conclusion
Adult learning is picking up pace in the modern world as education has become a decisive factor. It is an influential element in an individual's career success. As a result, new teaching methodologies are sought after in successfully implementing adult learning. One of these methodologies, the adult learning theory, was developed by the renowned Educationist Malcolm Knowles. While it is based on several assumptions it rings true in adult education and works well with educating them at an age which is considered very mature for formal education. The lack of educational platforms for adults also drives them to adult education institutions that are specifically designed for this purpose.
While most adults are committed to their families, work, and other commitments, they are also very mature, knowledgeable, and results-oriented. These traits make learning easier or harder according to their levels of knowledge. Adult learning theory can be easily applied to these adults just like the UK education system which focuses on assignments. Adult educational institutions like SNATIKA follow this system making it easier for senior professionals like you to attain higher academic qualifications without much struggle.
Visit SNATIKA and check out our program before you decide to move into other educational institutions because the SNATIKA platform is designed exclusively for senior professionals who need higher educational qualifications without many sacrifices. Visit SNATIKA today.
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