Motivating Adult Learners

I came across an interesting article about motivating adult learners.  It highlights some key characteristics of adult learners and how course design should contemplate their learning styles.  While much of what is presented could be considered "common sense", it does do a good job of providing an overview of the unique characteristics of an adult learner, along with strategies to accommodate their learning and motivational needs. 

Central to the article is the definition of an adult learner - which could include college students.  This is important as it sets the stage for a discussion of how to establish a learning setting and motivation strageties for a more mature and self-motivated student who has more life experience, established habits and tastes, many obligations outside of class and (most importantly?) options. For the purpose of the article, the definition includes an individual who:

• "performs roles associated by our culture with adults", and
• "perceives himself / herself to be responsible for his/her own life".
  

Given the maturity level of an adult learner, the author proposes a learning environment that is rich with activities that "allow maximum participation by learners so they can invest their expereince and values in the learning process."  Suggestions include estabishing a learning environment that:

• encourages past experiences
• is collaborative between instructor-student and student-student
• incoroprates "experiential activities"

The role of the instructor is viewed as managing "the process", but not managing "the content" where the instructor primarily facilitates versus lectures.  Instructors should offer clarity, empathy and expertise, while always showing enthusiasm.  All of this builds credibility in the eyes of the adult learner.  Additionally, adult learners benefit from being "actively involved in establishing the learning objectives."  While the author warns that instructors should not allow students to "call the shots", instructors should provide students the opporutnity to take a stake in setting their objectives.

Suggested strategies to help motivate the adult learner include:

• presenting material in "chunks" and building on material using a "whole-part-whole" concept that begins with a wide view (to show the relevance, followed by the details, then a summary based on the whole
• making the material relevant (such as relating to the learner's current job) and explaining why the material is relevant (adult learners aren't always an easy "sell")
• providing a lot of documentation and options to explore the material
  
• establishing group interactions
• incorporating flexibility (1) to allow learners to try new things and (2) to accommodate their outside work and home life