Adult learning: Do adults learn differently from children?

A couple of days ago, I looked up job postings for learning and development positions. Soon, I discovered that most employers are looking for someone who knows “adult learning”.

*Pause for a moment*

I asked myself: “What exactly is adult learning? Do adults learn differently from children?”

Let’s explore this trendy keyword together.

Table of content

A hint of the answer from my observation
Do adults learn differently from children?
Adult learning vs. Conventional learning
Adult learning – foundational theories
Redefining adult learning: active vs passive learning approach

1. A hint of the answer from my observation

I looked up the term on Google, and there are plenty of pages talking about “adult learning principles.”

However, I recall that my friends and I already applied those principles back in the day when I was in grade school.

I also have a niece who is in 2nd grade. Every time she did a math problem, she would pause and contemplate the results. “19 + 5 = 24… do you know a day has 24 hours?”

That is her relating to her own experience – a principle of adult learning.

It seems like children also share the same learning techniques as adults. Why do they have to have a study field for “adult learning”?

2. Do adults learn differently from children?

I thought to myself: “Perhaps what I’ve observed in my social circle isn’t universal”. So I decided to look up the scientific articles.

The question I set out to answer is “Do adults learn differently from children?”

And the answer I found is: Yes and No.

There was evidence indicating differences in adults and children’s learning capacity, such as reminiscence, learning curve styles (facilitation vs adaptation), and executive control.

However, many other learning capacities were found to have no differences across ages, such as retention or transfer, and inhibition.

Furthermore, the results mentioned above came from the average results of adults and children studied. Meaning: some children do have qualities like adults and some adults do have qualities like children.

And the adult learning principles listed on the internet are loosely related to these differences.

It has to be something else.

3. Adult learning vs Conventional learning

As I read more articles, it turned out that: by adult learning, they are comparing adult learning with conventional learning and NOT with children (even though children usually learn through conventional institutionalized learning).

The term andragogy, later broadened to adult learning, was first used by Alexander Kapp, a German teacher. Kapp’s idea was based on Plato’s writing, which emphasized the meaning of learning and the role of continuous learning.

Back then, education was only for children, and Kapp wanted to highlight the importance of continuance of learning during adulthood.

In the 1960s, Andragogy was “imported” into the US by Malcolm Knowles. He based his idea upon The Lindeman’s theory which promotes the problem-solving focus of learning.

In the article Andragogy: Adult Learning Theory in Perspective, Malcolm Knowles highlighted that andragogy is a new technique of learning.

Specifically, most adults used to learn through institutionalized education during childhood, which determines what students learn, and hopefully, someday, students can apply it.

In contrast, adult learning, or this new technique of learning, focuses on the real and relevant challenges faced by students. Learning helps adults “become aware of and to evaluate [their] experience”

In his own words, Malcolm Knowles wrote that it is not about adult vs children learning, but it is about adult vs conventional learning.

4. Adult learning theories (at present)

After decades of researching, now, adult learning studies are built on the main 3 theories:

Andragogy

Andragogy, introduced by Malcolm Knowles, is based on these 6 principles

Adult learners are self-directing
Adult learners have acquired life experiences, which are great sources of learning
Adult learners’ readiness to learn is associated with the development of their social role
Knowledge learned should be immediately applicable
Adult learners are more driven by internal motivations than external ones
Adult learners need to know the reason for learning

Self-directing learning

This theory is all about the learner taking control of her or his own learning. The learner decides what to learn and the medium to learn

Transformative learning

This theory focuses on the meaning making process during learning – understanding and learning from the situation.

Learning is dependent on adult life experiences and a more mature level of cognitive functioning.

Learning is not just about gaining skills, but learning also changes learners’ belief, attitude, or perspective

5. Redefining adult learning: active vs passive learning approach

In today’s world, where children can access abundant information and learning resources online, children can actively learn and utilize techniques referred to as “adult learning” – Just as my niece.

Meanwhile, adults can fall back on familiar passive, institutionalized ways of learning since they associate learning with the education they used to have back in grade school or even college.

It is more like active learning where students decide what, when, where, and how to learn the topic of interest.

Final thoughts

In summary, adult learning refers to learning principles that allow learners to have the freedom to choose what to learn and how to learn it. It is not about adults vs. children, but more about active vs passive learning.

The term “adult learning” is kind of misleading, isn’t it?

Designing training programs for employees that allow this freedom of learning is assuming that employees prefer this active approach to learning.

Will this approach be welcomed by employees who have been learning in a passive, institutionalized way? – The answer can only be found through trial and error.