I saw self-directed learning in my mother as she set her goal, which was to complete each class, and to earn her degree. Motivation to Learn

I felt like my mother was really motivated to learn. She was internally motivated because she had always wanted the opportunity to earn her degree in education and to become a classroom teacher. She often spoke about how she wanted to be able to help others to succeed, so she was motivated by the idea of encouraging and motivating her students. She was also externally motivated by the idea of financial rewards because she knew that she would make more money by working as a classroom teacher than as a teacher's aide. My mother had the internal drive to learn combined with the external motivation of making a better living.

Lesson 11

Importance of the Knowledge of Adult Development

According to Merriam (1984), it is critical for educators to have an understanding of the concept of andragogy. Adults enter the educational environment with a wide range of personal experiences, and they often return to school...

Educators need to know about adult development theory because it will help them to design and deliver lessons that are developmentally appropriate. It can also help educators make learning more meaningful for their students. Finally, educators should be able to recognize that the information they present will be better received if the teacher acts as a resource rather than an authority figure.
Maximized Learning Environment

Having an understanding of the stages of adult development can help both the instructor and students to maximize the learning environment. For instance, Merriam (1984) suggests that traditional classroom formats such as lectures and testing are not particularly effective. He suggests instead that hands-on learning should be used, as well as individual or self-paced learning, and that portfolios should take the place of traditional pencil and paper assessments.

Merriam also indicates that teachers act in the role of counselor. Adult learners are often in a stage of transition from one stage of life to another or from one career to another, and may need support as they undergo this difficult step.

References

Merriam, S. (1984). Adult Development: Implications for Adult Education. National Center for Research in Vocational Education. Retrieved April 23, 2010 from http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-921/development.htm

National Center for Adult Literacy. (n.d.). What is NAAL? Retrieved April 23, 2010 from http://nces.ed.gov/naal/index.asp