Back in first grade, learning was pretty straightforward. 

You went to school because your parents told you to go. You listened to your teacher and followed her instructions. And you learned by following your teacher’s example.  

But as an adult, learning may not be quite as simple.  

Now, you are choosing to go to school for yourself, not because anyone has told you to. When your professor tells you something, you may question it or apply it to your own life experiences. And you no longer learn by mimicking someone else’s example, but by discussing an issue with your teacher and classmates. 

How adults learn is quite different than how children learn, and as more adults are going back to school to further or change their careers, it’s crucial that educators have an understanding of the best techniques for adults to learn. And it’s important that students at least recognize that adult learning online isn’t going to include copying words from the chalkboard or reciting a poem. Distance learning for adults will involve debate, discussion, critical thinking and a chance to work with fellow students who are just as motivated to learn as you. 

So what is adult learning? Andragogy is the scientific term for the study of adult learning and education. It explores learning strategies for adults, and educators must fully understand these different approaches in order to reach an adult student audience.  

Andragogy was originally used by German educator Alexander Kapp in 1833, but Malcolm Knowles, an American educator, has since developed the theory. Knowles made 5 basic assumptions about adult learners:  

1. Self concept: an adult needs to be self-directed and responsible for his own evaluation
2. Experience: an adult uses his previous experiences as a resource in learning
3. Readiness to learn: an adult wants to learn about things that have the most relevance to his work or personal life. An adult learner also wants to know the reason why he must learn something
4. Orientation to learning: an adult learns by focusing on the problem at hand, not the subject itself
5. Motivation: an adult learner is self-motivated – the desire to learn comes from within

Understanding andragogy is not just helpful for your college or university, it can also help you know what to expect before you even begin your first online course. Make sure that your online instructor is taking adult learning into consideration when he/she develops course materials and delivers lectures.