I have in all my undergraduate study been told what to do as student. All the information, tasks and assignment were delivered and dictated by the teachers in charge of the subject or the modules, and as students I had to follow the instruction giving, however, since I came to Cardiff university to do my master degree on health care science, the attitudes of the teachers and the way the modules structured which was different form the way I used to and had influence (presage) in my view the way we teach our Operating Department Practitioners ODPs and students nurses coming to the operating theatre for their post qualification internal ship and hoping that I will introduce a change in order to assist new ODPs and nurses graduates in order to help them building their capabilities to work independently and safely, the aim of the internal ship period is to produce competent theatre practitioners in term of skills, knowledge, confidence and learning responsibility Quinn et al. (2007). Therefore a lot of effort must be utilised to help them in the transition period form students to qualified staff (Simelane et al.1997).
Each internal ship will be assigned with a mentor but also has to work with others qualified staffs, part of the contract of each staff is teaching in work place, this system was introduce to develop and support new graduates in practice and (will be called educators through out this assignment). Exposing to different educators may have an advantage for the learner to be exposed to different type of educators with different experience yet ever one expected to achieve the same objectives with each learner.
Despite the different strategies that health educators use in ODPs and nursing, a theory and practice gap still ex...
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...ning and evaluation of my learning. I have become more motivated to do the course as I have been responsible of my own learning and identifying resources for learning, therefore, have more confident in making decision.
4. Analysis: having been through the adult learning experience I have realised the roll of learner and teacher in this approach. An effective teacher can facilitate the development of independence, self confidence, learning satisfaction and help students (the learner) to critical think. This experience has taught me that there are different styles of learning and teaching that I can adopt in my future.
5. Conclusion: having been involved in teaching students in their internal ship time, the style of teaching and the experience of my undergraduate compare with the new approach in my postgraduate as an adult learning approach, I have realised now that
Being a teacher of adult education is a very demanding job. It requires an absolute commitment towards embedding real-life tasks into the curriculum to make learning more meaningful and purposeful for adults (Early & DeCosta, 2007, p.1). At the heart of it, teaching adults really is about being flexible enough to address the needs of an individual student; being creative enough to challenge adult students’ ways of thinking; and finally being sensitive enough to understand that some students’ paths towards higher education can be more challenging than ours (Early & DeCosta, 2007, p.2). In other words, a good teacher of adult education is a teacher who is able to inspire and motivate students to think differently, read and write meaningfully, and communicate purposefully.
What is andragogy? Andragogy consists of a theoretical model of six assumptions that was developed by Malcolm Knowles in order to “distinguish adult learning and adult education from other areas of education” (Mirriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007, p. 83). And so, andragogy might also be defined in terms of the efforts of “multiple researchers and scholars” (Henschke, 2011, p. 35) searching for a way to “establish andragogy as a proven theory and strong method for teaching adults” (Henschke, 2011, p. 35). But why is the topic of andragogy important for both adult learners and teachers? It is important because in order to effectively teach adult learners we must first “be cognizant of the differences which adult students bring to the classroom” (Schultz, 2012, p. 1) and to also understand that among adult learners, there exist “varying expectations and reasons for learning” (Schultz, 2012, p. 1). Andragogy is more¬over important to adult learners and teachers because both “learners and educators alike can use [it] to strengthen the learning transaction” (Mirriam et al., 2007, p. 84). With this brief definition of andragogy, along with the corresponding reason for its importance in mind, what now follows is what this paper is going to be about. The topic of this paper is an evaluation of whether or not the traditional learning environment is conducive to learning for adult learners as opposed to the andragogical environment. And the dual purpose hereof is to first briefly relate my own personal experience in a traditional learning context (under the heading of a ‘Traditional Learning Environment’), and then to reflect upon whether or not that traditional context (this time under the heading of ‘Andragogy Reflection’) i...
This essay is to consider and discuss how I might apply the theories of Malcolm Knowles, in my own current or future training work. The essay will include a brief biography on Malcolm Knowles, and his theory on adult education / learning andragogy, to include definitions of andragogy and pedagogy, which has been the mainstay of all education theory for hundreds of years.
One theorist that is relevant to this study is Malcolm Knowles’s theory of adult learning. Though Malcom Knowles may not be the first one to introduce adult learning, he was the one that introduced andragogy in North America. (McEwen and Wills 2014). Andragogy means adult learning. The core concept of Knowles’s Adult learning theory is to create a learning environment or awareness for adults to understand why they learn .Knowles developed six main assumptions of adult learners. Those assumptions are the need to know, self- concept, experience, readiness to learn, orientation to learning and motivation. (McEwen and Wills, 2014)
Edward Lindeman is thought by many to be the founder of contemporary adult education. His work in the area of adult education included the writing of articles, books, public presentations, assistance in the collegiate system as a lecturer of social work and as an associate pastor in the church (Brookfield 1986). Lindeman and Martha Anderson traveled to observe and analyze the German Folk High School system and the worker’s movement. Consequently, Lindeman and Anderson’s comparative research lead to the breakthrough of the German perception of andragogy. Their studies define andragogy as the “true method of adult learning” (1986). In 1968 at Boston University, the initial use of the term “andragogy” to attain prevalent notice of adult instructors occurred when Malcolm Knowles who at the time was an instructor of adult education, presented the term via journal article. In his 1970 book publication, he defined “andragogy” as the art and science of helping adults learn. The concept of self-directed learning, or SDL, maintained below reveals Knowles’ definition of SDL:
The learning process for adults is never ending and can be very challenging. As an adult educator, teaching adult learners you will face many challenges in the learning process. It is our responsibility to keep the learners engaged, and to help them to realize their full learning potential.
Due to a climbing faculty shortage, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2010) called upon nurses to attain terminal degrees, specifically the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) and the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP), assume the role of educator, and engage in lifelong learning. In fact, centers of professional excellence have intended to double the number of nurses with doctorates by 2020 (IOM, 2010). When advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) attain doctorates, the IOM (2010) recommendations actualize, thereby strengthening the profession at a time that is critical to reduce the faculty shortage and improve the education of the next generation of aspiring nurses to meet the evolving demands of the United States health care system (McAllister, 2011). One effective approach to enhance patient learning and nursing education is through the application of Malcolm Knowles’ (1980) Adult Learning Theory. The aims of this paper are to (1) describe the major components and uses of Knowles’ (1980) Adult Learning Theory in APRN
“Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviors” (Geinare, p. 7, 2012). Staying up with current practices and the evolving changes in health care there will always be opportunities to learn and to grown both professionally and personally. It is essential for nurses to maintain their competences within the basics of nurses as well as their specialty. Maintaining flexibility in the approach to teach others such as students, peers, and other clinical staff educators must meet the diverse needs to accommodate everyone. Within the past four years I have be able to accomplish goals that felt impossible to reach. Keeping positive people, a good attitude, and believe in myself have all contributes to my success which I will continue over the course of my career as a Nurse Educator. I foresee a bright future for myself and have shared wit you on how I plan to achieve my short terms goals as well as long term
Merriam, S. B. & Brockett, R. G. explains the difference between Adult Learning and Adult Education. Adult Learning is a cognitive process. (Merriam, S. B. & Brockett, R. 2007,G p.5) Learning is acquiring new information gained from life experiences, reading to inform yourself and personal relationships. It differs from Adult Education because it is informal. For example, if one would like to live a healthier life style and obtain information on good nutrition by reading a self-help book, this is adult learning. If one attends a nutritional class with a nutritionist as an instructor, this is a form of adult education. Adults are lifelong learners because learning is an on-going process. Learning is constant, incidental and is everywhere. Lindeman beli...
Andragogy is focusing on creating good learning experiences for adults(2013). Here, we should understand some assumptions about the boundary of adult and pre-adult. First , Adult learner can do self-direct learning (chapter 4), and can study independent than the pre-adult or children who are totally learning rely on teachers---learner’s self-concept, also this part is the most engaged part with learning. The second assumption is the most impressive and helpful. Adult learner have more experience than other learner, that means, adult’s prior experience have a big difference feeling or motivation with other adults. Take myself for example, when I was in high school, my orientation for study was went into a good University; whereas, right now, my orientation for study is to make my life different than before. It’s a internal motivation, because I experienced many things which I didn’t experienced in high school. The part “the need to know” makes me feel distanced from
The facilitation of this model allows adult learners to be active and self-directed in their learning.
I remember there was a time on my first few weak of orientation I felt like I didn’t belong the healthcare field. I was about to quit the nursing profession, but one of the experienced nurses who was working with me told me that you couldn't run away from yourself just hang in there you will figure it out you are not the alone. I could say there was a significant gap between theory and practice. In real life practice, I learned so many things through everyday training and experiences from working difference patients with the different case. In school, we learned the importance of evidence-based practice but to incorporate that knowledge in real life practice is a different problem. In nursing practices, we come across patients with various health issues that require a solution right then. From this vantage point, the student begins to learn the value of looking at what is perceived as pure clinical problems in a more significant context. (Ferrara, 2010). Not only has this brought the theory we have learned in school and what a nurse has experienced in clinical setting closing this
Teaching the adult student is a great and unique responsibility; Andragogy preaches that teaching the adult learner takes a certain skill set and approach in order to be highly effective. The adult teaching theory and approach is based off the characteristics of the adult student. Andragogy views the adult learner as a very highly motivated student, a student ready and prepared to learn, and a student that comes to class with expectations of learning (Knowles 1984, pg12). With such a capable learner in the classroom the teacher must make the necessary adjustments. When teaching the adult learner, the teacher will have respect for their students and respect the fact that each student will have their own individual learning style. The teacher will also allow the adult student to experie...
Education is the most important activity that every human should be an active partaker. Education is an activity that is designed to bring about changes in the knowledge, skills, attitudes and perceptions of individuals, groups or communities.
Within the andragogical model described by Knowles, Holton, and Swanson (2015), adults need learning experiences that are different than those found in the pedagogical model. Instead of waiting for experiences that are directed and controlled by a teacher, adults need to have a clear rationale and understanding for the learning, feel past experiences are valuable, and have a developed internal system for motivation in order to help a learning experience be successful. The connection and orientation to the learning task, the readiness to learn, and self-concept are other important ideas to adult learning.