This course focuses on adult development and learning theories. Students will identify the stages of adult development and examine the concept of andragogy versus pedagogy. Major theories of adult learning and how they relate to instructional practices will be explored. Intelligence, learning styles, and motivation are discussed in the context of teaching adult learners. Emphasis will be placed on teaching and learning models and strategies and effective practices in distance education.

Adult Development Theories

• Summarize the various adult developmental theories.
• Describe the adult learning process and factors affecting it.

Learning and Information Processing

• Identify the common learning characteristics of adult learners.
• Assess the impact of adult learning styles.
• Identify the life-cycle phases of adult development.
• Analyze the learning process as a function of aging, including physical and personality changes and intellectual functioning.

Adult Learning Theories

• Analyze classical and current theories of learning including humanism, behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and andragogy.
• Analyze the similarities and differences between andragogy and pedagogy.

External and Environmental Influences

• Summarize the developmental challenges of adulthood including career, family, and aging concerns.
• Identify the demographic, social, and technological changes that have impacted adult learning and increased the need for distance education.

Teaching Strategies

• Summarize effective teaching strategies for facilitating adult learning.
• Determine which teaching strategies are conducive to meeting the needs of adult learners in distance education environments.

Lifelong Learning

• Support the need for lifelong learning.
• Analyze the impact of motivation on adult learning.
• Analyze the nature and form of self-directed learning.