Adult learning is new and exciting points in our lives. As we age there are a lot of changes. We hold responsibilities of our own, work day to day to keep our bills paid, take care of our families, and some adults choose to finish their education. When that change happens our learning changes with it. Malcom Knowles and David Kolb both feel like adults learn differently than children.
Malcolm Knowles created the adult learning theory called andragogy or adult learning theory. “The adult learner has an innate desire to learn, is an active agent in the planning and execution of her/his learning, and s/he values immediately relevant and problem solving-based learning.” (Chen, 2013) He stated that andragogy as the art and science of helping adults learn. Knowles felt like adults and children learn differently due to being at different stages in their lives. Children learn due to the facts they are told to learn something. However, adults learn something because they want to.
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Since it was a completely different type of learning “Knowles suggested that the classroom climate should be one of 'adultness,’ both physically and psychologically.” (Merriam, nd) They take charge in what they need to learn. That adults learn by what happens in their lives. In order to learn something, it would have to have relevance to them otherwise they would not learn it. When it is of relevance to their day to day life they can make a bridge to understanding the material and relate it back to their lives. Therefore, it will allow them to