Adult learning is of great interest to many researchers because continuous education is essential for people’s employment and social status. So, one should discuss the methods that help them acquire new knowledge. In particular, it is necessary to examine the environment in which learning can take place.
Adult learners can be viewed as a diverse group of people who differ in terms of their educational needs. For instance, these individuals represent various occupations. These employees have to extend their knowledge on a regular basis. Additionally, some companies encourage their workers to obtain graduate degrees. This task is critical for those people who want to assume the positions of leadership. Furthermore, these adults belong to various cultures. For instance, one can refer to immigrants who need to adjust to the new culture or language. Overall, they can prefer different learning environments. Some of them choose to attend formal institutions such as colleges or universes. In contrast, others seek the assistance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community services. Moreover, they can pursue their studies without any external support.
There are three types of learning settings. At first, one should mention formal learning taking place in the institutions that are officially recognized. These organizations have a right to give certificates indicating that a person has some educational qualifications and skills (Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007). In this case, the learning activities of a person follow the subject-based curriculum. Some types of formal education are compulsory. One should also consider the learning in non-formal settings. For instance, researchers mention the education offered by museums or libraries (Coffield, 2000, p. 12). Additionally, NGOs support people living in developing countries. For instance, they can help these individuals achieve computer literacy. These activities do not enable a person to receive the educational certificate that will be officially recognized. Moreover, the assessment standards are less rigorous. Finally, it is necessary to mention informal learning that accompanies the daily activities of a person (Sockett, 2014). These studies are usually self-directed. As a rule, a person does not have to follow the official curriculum. Furthermore, in many cases, there is no external assessment. Therefore, this learning does not lead to certification.
Overall, I would like to talk about informal learning that has been of great significance to me. For instance, I had to work very hard to get a good grasp of academic writing. In particular, I tried to study the essays of prominent writers and journalists. So, I attempted to emulate some of the techniques that they used. I was not required to do it, and my learning activities were not formally assessed. Nevertheless, these self-directed studies were of great use to me. In particular, I achieved higher scores for other papers that I submitted.
This discussion shows that adults can benefit from various learning environments. However, more attention should be paid to their motivation and willingness to acquire new skills. Overall, one should integrate these approaches to achieve the best results.
Reference List
Coffield, F. (2000). The Necessity of Informal Learning. New York, NY: Policy Press.
Merriam, S., Caffarella, R., & Baumgartner, L. (2007).Learning in Adulthood: A Comprehensive Guide. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Sockett, G. (2014). The Online Informal Learning of English. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.