to be applicable to their work or other responsibilities to be of value to them.Therefore, instructors must identifyobjectives for adult participants before thecourse begins. This means, also, that theoriesand concepts must be related to a settingfamiliar to participants. This need can befulfilled by letting participants choose projects that reflect their own interests.
, focusing on the aspectsof a lesson most useful to them in their work.They may not be interested in knowledge for its own sake. Instructors must tell participantsexplicitly how the lesson will be useful tothem on the job.
As do all learners, adults need to be shown
. Instructors must acknowledge thewealth of experiences that adult participants bring to the classroom. These adults should be treated as equals in experience andknowledge and allowed to voice their opinions freely in class.
Motivating the Adult Learner
Another aspect of adult learning is motivation. Atleast six factors serve as sources of motivation for adult learning:
to make new friends, tomeet a need for associations and friendships.