There are many factors that constitute being an adult. An adult is much more than turning the age of 18. The definition in the dictionary states an adult means being completely grown: fully developed and mature. I think there is much more that defines an adult. In the United States an adult is considered to be someone who takes responsibility of themselves and their actions. An adult has stability in their life and is able to take care of themselves physically, mentally, financially and emotionally. In other countries and cultures there definition of an adult differs.
Adults are unique in many ways. Every person is an entity having their own identity, thought process, and way they see things. We all have different morals and values from our diverse up-bringing. We have different interests. Our lives have taken us on individualized paths offering different experiences. A person's uniqueness comes from the combination of characteristics that make up their personality.
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...
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...Liberal Philosophical Orientation does not fit with my view of Adult Education. The purpose is to “develop intellectual powers of the mind; to make a person literate in the broadest sense--intellectually, morally, and spiritually.” The methods used are lecture; study groups, critical reading and discussion. I do not think an adult learner, or any student benefits from this kind of teaching. There are various ways to deliver information that is more engaging and effective in education.
My own Philosophical Orientation is a mix of Progressive and Humanistic. I like both concepts which include, problem solving, experience based education, lifelong learning, experimental learning, feelings, interactive, and openness. I feel both concepts will help Adult Educators and Adults learners find success and become well-rounded individuals in our society.
Liberal educations benefit students in the long run, long after students have paid their loans. People are able to be informed on national topic, while also being able to be self dependent. Two qualities that are essential in the modern society. I believe it is important to have such a basic understanding of education and knowledge, just like what Nussbaum agreed too in her essay. However, I also believe the curriculum should be centered around making students a better person. Institutions should try to produce good people with the right intentions instead of just focusing on testing intelligence, similar to what Cronon focused on in his essay. If we can incorporate both of these important features into our liberal education system, then and only then, will we be thriving as a society. Graduates will have a good understanding of knowledge from an array of different fields, as well as having important traits that will carry on for the rest of their
But the best argument against a liberal education is perhaps the simplest. When students go to any college, they choose a major and take classes that are related to that major. However to get to those classes they have to take courses in , reading, writing, and history. I don’t think that Zakaria realises this. By the time these students graduate, they will be able to understand all of the technical aspects of their field, as well as being able to express their thoughts and ideas clearly. All of this without a traditional Liberal
Today’s education is more liberal than it has been in the past. A liberal education teaches people to think for themselves and it provides people with a broader education. The classes that are part of a liberal education are not just the general education classes, they are also electives. A liberal education teaches people to challenge what they do not believe, but a person with a more conservative education would never challenge what they were told. In challenging what they do not believe, they can further research it. In doing this it frees people from the restraints in their everyday life, and allows them to control the forces in their life.
Adults are self-motivated. They learn best by building on what they already know and when they are actively engaged (Lindeman, 2010). The approach of adult education revolves around non-vocational ideals and is based on experience rather than subjects (Lindeman, 2010). It helps adults gain knowledge about their powers, capacities, and limitations (Funnell et al, 2012).
As I researched and studied the 5 teaching and learning philosophies. I believe the humanistic philosophy is the most appropriate for adult learners. However, dependent upon our adult learners, in order to be an effective adult educator we must remain flexible and be willing to adjust our teaching style and delivery method. In doing so we must utilize basic fundamentals from each of the five learning philosophies to reach our adult learners allowing opportunity for positive learning to taking place for both the learner as well as the teacher.
Mirriam, S. B., Caffarella, R. S., & Baumgartner, L. M. (2007). Learning in adulthood: A
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:
Adulthood has often been associated with independence. It serves as a turning point in life where one has to take responsibility for oneself and no longer being dependent on his or her family. Early adulthood, usually begins from late teens or early twenties and will last until the thirties (Santrock, 2013). Early adulthood revolves around changes and exploration while middle and late adulthood are more of stability. The transition from adolescence and adulthood differs among every individual. The onset of the transition is determined by many factors such as culture, family background, and the personality of the individual. Emerging adulthood (as cited in Santrock, 2014) is the term to describe the transition period from adolescence to adulthood.
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.
“As a child I assumed that when I reached adulthood, I would have grown-up thoughts.”- David Sedaris. The transition from a child to an adult could be a very intimidating time, this is because not only are people expected to know more but the increase of responsibility sometimes terrifies people. Many reasons on why some prefer childhood over their now adulthood varies on responsibility, the things people are required to know, and the the idea of having a parent or being a parent.
Many people believe that age determined adulthood but they are wrong because age is a number and everyone grows up in different rates. You can’t always expect everyone to become mature at the same age, because everyone is different. Many teens become adults faster for certain reason and some of them were not give the option they just had to too. Becoming an adult is not an option for everyone but sooner or later you have to grow up because you can’t stay a kid forever. Being 18 years old makes you legally an adult in united states, but in reality we know that 18 years old are very different from maturity as well responsibilities and life experience.
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.
In summary, I guess I disagree with the theory that adults learn differently than children. I think we all learn the same. I think it is the strategy that is different. I believe that the role of any good educator is to guide the learner into connecting what they are learning in the classroom to their world.
“Age is just a number, maturiy is a choice.” (Harry Styles) Some people see this quote as true, while others view it as nonsense. Maturity is the state of being mature, but what does “being mature” really mean? In actuality, the definition of mature is defined by the person themselves. Some believe it is being “Fully physically developed; full grown” as stated in the Oxford English Dictionary. Others argue that one must attain a certain level of mental or emotional growth. Search engines and dictionaries also say that being mature is having reached an advanced stage of mental or emotional development characteristic of an adult. The definition of a word may seem like a small thing because, on the surface, it appears very matter of fact. But, for anyone who is actually striving to achieve maturity, or for one who is being judged or is judging the attained level of maturity of
Becoming an adult, also known as young adulthood, is a very crucial stage in one’s life. This is the climax of physical and health processes. This is the point in life when we make plans of our futures. It is the time when we think of what life will be like as an adult and make plans for the future. Most importantly, it is when we lay the starting point for developmental changes that we will undergo throughout our lives. An adult is a person who is fully grown or developed. Some people believe that you become an adult when you are 18 years old, other believe you are an adult when you can legally buy and consume alcohol, that is, at age 21 in the United States. Others believe that you are an adult when you are supporting yourself