Effective Adult Learning
Bob Marley
10/01/2012
INFT 101
Summary
There are several different ways to learn effectively, and these ways change as a person grows. One goes from being a child, to being an adult, and while growing, the most effective forms of learning change. Some of the best learning styles for adults would have very little effect on children, and vice versa. “Journal of Workplace Learning” and “Simulation and Adult Learning” show some of the most effective ways to help adults to learn quickly and easily.
“Journal of Workplace Learning” covers one of the easiest methods for learning, that of storytelling. Enzo Caminotti and Jeremy Gray, writers of the article Journal of Workplace Learning, say that “Generally speaking, the longer you live the more stories you will have to share with others” (Caminotti & Gray, 2012, 4). This is true for every adult, as they have all had unique experiences in their lives, giving them each unique ways in which the story applies to their lives.
“Simulation and Adult Learning” written by Ernest Wang, shows two key learning theories. The first of these is simulation. Simplified, this means to do things in a way which makes them seem real (Wang, 2011). The second theory Wang writes about is having the correct environment. “There should be a strong sense of a ‘safe environment’ where the participants do not feel threatened to make mistakes, and where mistakes are used as opportunities for teachable moments rather than embarrassing the learners” (Wang, 2011, 11). It is important to have this type of environment in learning situations, as many of the younger adult learners do not feel comfortable speaking up in front of their peers, fearing damage to their social status.
Any one of these used its own will help anyone learn faster and remember their material much more easily. But if several of these ideas, or even all three are used at once, this could cause whatever is being learned to stick more thoroughly and more completely than any
10/01/2012
INFT 101
Summary
There are several different ways to learn effectively, and these ways change as a person grows. One goes from being a child, to being an adult, and while growing, the most effective forms of learning change. Some of the best learning styles for adults would have very little effect on children, and vice versa. “Journal of Workplace Learning” and “Simulation and Adult Learning” show some of the most effective ways to help adults to learn quickly and easily.
“Journal of Workplace Learning” covers one of the easiest methods for learning, that of storytelling. Enzo Caminotti and Jeremy Gray, writers of the article Journal of Workplace Learning, say that “Generally speaking, the longer you live the more stories you will have to share with others” (Caminotti & Gray, 2012, 4). This is true for every adult, as they have all had unique experiences in their lives, giving them each unique ways in which the story applies to their lives.
“Simulation and Adult Learning” written by Ernest Wang, shows two key learning theories. The first of these is simulation. Simplified, this means to do things in a way which makes them seem real (Wang, 2011). The second theory Wang writes about is having the correct environment. “There should be a strong sense of a ‘safe environment’ where the participants do not feel threatened to make mistakes, and where mistakes are used as opportunities for teachable moments rather than embarrassing the learners” (Wang, 2011, 11). It is important to have this type of environment in learning situations, as many of the younger adult learners do not feel comfortable speaking up in front of their peers, fearing damage to their social status.
Any one of these used its own will help anyone learn faster and remember their material much more easily. But if several of these ideas, or even all three are used at once, this could cause whatever is being learned to stick more thoroughly and more completely than any
References: Caminotti, E., & Gray J. (2012). The Effectiveness of Storytelling on Adult Learning. Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 24 (Iss: 6) pp.430 - 438 Wang, E. E. (2011). Simulation and Adult Learning. Disease a Month, Vol. 57 (Iss. 1) ISSN 0011-5029