Introduction
All of us will, no doubt, agree that Nursing deserves a prominent place in modern society. It is a noble profession and is a means to earn but it is also a selfless service, especially benefiting the poor and the needy. The development of the nursing field is an essential factor for a country’s bright future. Hence it becomes almost mandatory that all necessary developments should be brought about in this field. The innovation of different Adult Learning Theories has done much in this field, especially their implementation among adolescents and adults.
The adolescent period is a more problematic period of a person’s life, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Here both physical and mental growth becomes visible and fast-moving. Changing cognitive ability and skills are very crucial in the life of an adult. The process of cognitive growth depends mainly upon a person’s acquisition of various experiences. The cognitive change depends on cognition, memory, intelligence, and creativity. In the stage of adulthood, students try to develop some behavioral changes in his life.
Through abstract thinking, a systematic way of problem facing and solving, and practical thinking he/she will gain cognitive development. When analyzing the behavior pattern of a child and an adult one can easily find the difference in their attitudes. The web article entitled The Concept of Cognitive Development makes it clear that cognitive development is possible through experience and events. The article points out “It has been suggested that many life events can trigger new patterns of thinking resulting in cognitive growth” “The Concept of Cognitive Development.” (The concept of cognitive development, 2009). The exponents of Social Constructivism (Vygotsky) argue that knowledge must be constructed.
Learner constructs knowledge through the interactions and experiences with others. Family and social interactions influence the process of cognitive development. While preparing the curriculum for adult education, educators should be conscious of the relevance of these developmental features and should find appropriate teaching strategies for adults. Compared to other fields of education nursing education is a more serious one. A nurse has the responsibility to work for a healthier society for which she should possess willingness and attitude, especially in the present time, when there is an alarming increase in the number of alcohol and drug addicts.
Influence of Brookfield’s framework for critical analysis of literature in adult education
The current adult education process requires suggestions for the acquisition of effective adult learning procedures. Brook field’s framework suggests some valuable methods for adult education such as Self-Direct Learning, Critical Reflection, Experiential Learning, Learning to Learn, Emergent trends, Cross-cultural Adult Learning, Practical Theorizing, and Distance Learning. ( Adult Learning: An Overview, Stephen Brookfield- (Brookfield, 2002).
Self–direction forces the student to give up collective action, common interests, and the habit of interdependence. Critical reflection paves the way for embedded logic, working intelligence, reflective judgment, and dialectical thinking. Experiential Learning is an important step in adult learning. In the case of nursing education, experiences are the primary source of knowledge for a student. The following sentence underlines the relevance of Experiential Learning. It says “Not surprisingly, then, the gradual accumulation of experience across the contexts of life is often argued as the chief difference between learning in adulthood and learning at earlier stages in the lifespan.” (Brookfield, (n.d.). p.4). Cross-Cultural Learning gives solutions for ethnic problems.
Experiential Learning
There is a common saying that ‘experience is the best teacher.’ Experience provides an effective source for learning. Experiential Learning is an important part of Brookfield’s framework for the adult learning process. Experiential Learning enhances learning procedures through individual interaction between teacher and students. The exponents of learning theories like social constructivism support various experiences. According to social constructivists, knowledge acquisition is a continuous and natural process.
Philosophy of Adult learning
Education is a lifelong process and it requires active participation in his/her learning process. The process of education should start from, confirm, and legalize the experience, insights, and facts of an individual. In the case of adult education, a teacher has the role of a facilitator. In an adult classroom, the teacher should play a serious role to take the students through various classroom contexts such as the method of instruction, attentive listening of the students, and active participation of students for creating an effective learning experience.
The adolescent period is the most crucial period of a person’s life and here visible changes, both physical and mental affect the life of the person. Their excessively emotional status demands consideration and proper recognition in the family as well as educational institutions. Through the application of effective teaching strategies and instructional methods, a teacher can create a meaningful classroom environment.
Peter Jarvis’s book named Adult education and lifelong learning provides valuable comments about the seriousness of adulthood and the philosophy of learning. Peter Jarvis remarks “Yet the broad philosophy of educators of adults may also affect their attitudes towards the concept, and use of objectives in the design of a teaching and learning situation.” ( Jarvis, 2004, p.248). The given statement underlines the fact that effective learning theories and teaching strategies are essential for adult education.
The educators and parents should know to create an encouraging and demanding learning environment as it is the best method for adult students for acquiring self-evaluation and self-correction. The role of humility or humbleness is a very important factor in an adult education program. The current system of adult education is something like the preparation for ‘experts’ and it will affect the students negatively. Through a student, an institution acquires a modified status. Education is a continuous and comprehensive process, which provides positive social changes.
Self-Direction and Autonomy in the Classroom
Self-direction and autonomy play a significant role in contemporary education procedures. The self –directed learning incorporates self-management through social setting, effective use of resources, and actions. It also helps the learner especially in the field of nursing education, to self-monitor, self-evaluate and regulate behavior. Through motivation, goal orientation, self-efficiency, self-control, and self-regulation one can promote self-direction and autonomy among adult students.
The teacher should ensure students’ participation in various classroom processes such as preparing a lesson plan, classroom practices, and assessment. Self-direction is essential for the courses like nursing and management. As a preceptor, the teacher should observe whether the students have the necessary theatrical understandings when they do their clinical work. Usually, nursing practice generates intense desire in students for knowledge and it is an ideal stimulus for learning.
The nursing practice can be tiring for the newcomer and the end of the day is not usually a good time to do anything other than debriefing. Another effective method is that the teacher provides enough opportunities for students to revise works, self-monitor, evaluate the learning process. Collaborative learning and project works are the best example of teaching strategies for creating self-direction among adults.
Classroom Conditions for Transformative Learning
Transformative learning is a part of experimental learning and it simply means creating a considerable or a powerful learning experience that changes the way students see themselves and their community. Various studies prove that the Traditional system of adult education concentrates on materialistic approaches. The attitude of people towards ‘experts’ is harmful to specialized learning fields such as nursing, management studies, and medical education and it demands changes. The web article entitled Personal Philosophy of Adult Education remarks “The learning environment should foster humility in both the student and teacher.” (Francais, 2005).
The attitude of making experts is not helpful for positive social development. If an educator could avoid this kind of transformative learning procedure in his classrooms, the students may tend to follow the means of conflict and ego to solve his/her problems. Another consequence is that students will lose social values. He tries to enhance his knowledge which he thinks is most perfect and he will never be ready to accept others’ abilities. The result of this will be that the collective responsibility of students will get discarded. Theories of How Adults Learn – A Comparison:
Malcom Knowles’ Andragogy presupposes the idea that self- direction is a tool for measuring the growth of an adult. Self –direction provides enough resolving abilities to overcome problems, which are related with his personal and academic field. Making self-concept is essential for an adult education programs. Like Brookfield’s framework, Howard Y. Mclusky suggests various methods for adult education. Mclusky developed his theory based on power and load notions.
The term ‘load’ reveals the self and social demands for self-direction. Power provides various recourses, which help the learning procedure such as learning abilities, positions, allies, and classroom activities. The Theory of Margin simply reveals the ratio between ‘load’ and ‘power’. Like Malcom Knowles’ McClusky also gives enough importance to learners’ experience. The author divides the term load into two- Internal and External. Power is also divided into five specific parts – Physical, social, mental, economic and skills are the subdivisions of power (The theory of margin, 2002)
Peter Jarvis has developed his learning theory based on social experiences. In his theory, Jarvis gives more emphasis on the process of concrete experience, observation, reflection, formation of abstracts, and analyzing the new knowledge. Jarvis enlightens the idea of adult lifelong experience, formation of self-concept, and the development of social roles for best academic achievements. Through the application of these concepts, an adult educator can develop learning materials for an effective classroom.
All three theories propose the role of learner experiences in the learning process. The field of adult education, especially nursing education requires these kinds of innovative learning theories and strategies. For acquiring the above mentioning skills, nursing students need a suitable environment for their successful and efficient learning. Behaviorist Learning Theories and Constructivist Theories also play a vital role in the current education process. Constructivists argue that a child has an innate ability to learn or acquire knowledge. Behaviorist theorists suggest a direct method of learning.
Analysis of Theories
After the analysis of various learning theories, one can see that Peter Jarvis’s learning process is more suitable for adult education. Here the author put forward different strategies for effective classroom achievement. Traditional classroom requires problem-based learning environment. Case studies and project works are helpful for an adult student especially a nursing student to improve his/her problem-solving skill. The above-mentioned theories including Brookfield’s framework underline the relevance of learner experience in an adult classroom. Another major contribution of Jarvis in learning theory is its reference to the development of adult social roles in the education arena.
Conclusion
When concluding, it is clear that Adult Learning is a complex procedure and it demands the implementation of effective Learning Theories and Teaching Strategies. In the case of nursing education, effective Learning Theories are essential. Self –Direction, self-concept, experiential learning, and Critical thinking are highly useful for Adult Education. Various learning theories provide several strategies and tools for adult students especially specific areas of education like nursing.
Reference
Brookfield, S. (2002). Adult learning: An overview. Web.
Brookfield, S. (n.d.). Adult learning: An overview, p.4.
Francais, D E. (2005). Personal philosophy of adult education: A transformative, holistic approach centered in humanity and services. Agile Advice: Thoughts and Experiences for Practitioners of Agile Work, the middle Way to Excellence. Web.
Jarvis, P. (2004). Adult education and lifelong learning: theory and practice. Routledge. Web.
The concept of cognitive development. (2009). 123 Help me. Web.
The theory of margin. (2002). Web.