Developing Adult Learning

Theories

Connections
Developing Learning Theories

Is the development of theories a

linear process?
Developing Learning Theories

Or is development of theories more of a

reflection on the learning process itself?
Transformation Learning
Theory
Adult Learning is experiential and
transforms the learner.
Transformation Learning
Theory
The learning process is seen as
cumulative transformations in related
meaning schemes
Transformation Learning
Theory
Adult Learning can be epochal, a
sudden transformation of the learner’s
perception
Three major schools of
Learning Theory
Theories based on the study
Of learning in children

• Behaviorist
• Cognitivist
• Constructivist
 Transformation Learning
Theory
Focus on adult learners

•Four Major schools of Transformation

learning theory
•Conscientization (Freire)
•Cognitive/Developmental (Mezirow)
•Motivational (Daloz)
•Holistic (Boyd)
 •Transformation Learning
Theory
Conscientization
• Learning as a form of
social reform.
Education should be a
process of action and
reflection Highlander in the 60s
• Theorist; Paulo Freire.

Highlander 2002
•Constructivist Learning Theory

• Key Theorist
Vygotsky
 •Transformation Learning
Theory
• Based on cognitive and
developmental psychology
• Key theorist Jack Mezirow

“Learning is a social process

that takes place within the
individual learner”
Jack Mezirow
Emeritus Professor
of Adult and Continuing Education
at Teachers College,
Columbia University
•Cognitivist Learning Theory
• Key theorists Piaget, Gagne, Bruner, Ausebel,
• Learning is a change in memory, stored knowledge
• Focus is on internal aspects, associating previous
knowledge with new information, organizing
knowledge and reinforcing memories

Piaget Gagne Bruner

•Cognitivist Learning Theory

• Learning is an internal process I-P-O

• Input- [Attention ]selectively receiving
information
• Process- [Encoding]Translating information
into a meaningful form which can be
remembered
• Output [Retrieval] identifying and recalling
information for a particular purpose
•Cognitivist Learning Theory

• But before the Cognitivists there was

Freud and DeCartes
 •Transformation Learning
Theory
Motivational
• Focuses on the
motivations and
developmental aspects
of adult lives
• Key theorist Laurent
Daloz
Laurent Daloz
Associate Director
and faculty member of the
Whidbey Institute in Clinton,
Washington.
•Behaviorist Learning Theory
• E.L. Thorndike and B.F. Skinner
• Learning is a change in behavior
• Focus is on external aspects

Thorndike Skinner
•Behaviorist Learning Theory

• Learning is as simple as A-B-C

• Antecedent (stimulus)
• Behavior (action)
• Consequence (re-enforcer)

+ =
•Behaviorist Learning Theory

• But before Thorndike and Skinner was

Pavlov and his dogs
 •Transformation Learning
Theory
Holistic
• Focus on the
emotional and spiritual
dimensions of learning
• Key theorist Robert
Boyd
 Constructivist Theory

• Learning is a
change in
meaning constructed from
experience
• Focus is on internal aspects,
building understanding
•Constructivist Learning Theory
• Before Vygotsky there was
Freud,
DeCartes,
as well as
Marx,
St. Augustine,
Aristotle,

Plato, and far to many others to give proper credit here.

Developing Learning Theories
So what fed and shaped the thinking of
Freire, Mezirow, Daloz and Boyd that
they came up with their theories of
Tranformation learning?
Developing Learning Theories
Things to think about
•What was going on in the world while these theorists
were coming up with their theories?
•How did world events influence the resultant theory?
Developing Learning Theories
Things to think about

•How do the theories impact each other?

Developing Learning Theories
Things to think about

• Is theory development a linear process?

Resources:

• Busse, C. (2002) Transformative Learning (unpublished)

• Driscoll, M.P. (2000) Psychology of Learning for
Instruction, 2nd ed., Allyn and Bacon Pub.
• Knowles, M. (1998) Modern Practice of Adult
eduction: from Pedagogy to Andragogy, Cambridge
adult press
• Newly et. al, (1996) Instructional Technology for
teaching and Learning, Prentice Hall Pub.
• Mezirow, J. (1994) Understanding Transformation
theory, Adult education quarterly v.44 no. 4