Learning as adults
I recently took up a mini MBA in Marketing course because I wanted to be better at what I do, and stay up to date with any new developments and trends in the marketing space. It took me quite some time to even consider embarking on further studies. Adults are challenged with balancing the responsibilities of everyday life against the barriers to learning. Lack of money, time, and opportunities are only some of these barriers, making corporate learning a challenge for many of us. In my case, juggling life, work, a young family, and finding the time for self-care can sometimes be a struggle.
Some believe learning becomes harder as you age as opposed to children who are better learners. It might be that adults' brains are clogged up (like an old computer with a lumbering hard drive) with past experiences, muscle memories, and old habits to cut through in order to process and store new information. However, our brains have the ability to change in structure or function in response to experience, which is called neuroplasticity and thus learning can be effective in all stages of life . Most importantly, a continuous learning activity contributes to increasing neuronal regeneration and avoiding the effects of ageing.
Andragogy are methods or techniques used in adult education since the '60s and are now commonly known as Adult Learning Theory. The principles behind this theory believe that adults must want to learn, they will learn only what is necessary, adults learn by doing while focusing on problem solving, experiences (good and bad) affect learning outcomes, learning is best in informal situations, and adults want guidance but also to be considered partners in the learning process.
A podcast episode of All In The Mind explores why being a beginner is good for you. Sometimes, when we already have pre-conceived ideas, they get in the way of learning, and we are unable to adapt as well. Unlearn by Barry O'Reilly (a past book on our book club) talks about exactly that. On how as leaders we need to let go of past experiences and relearn new skills in order to break through to growth. Learning multiple skills simultaneously can be beneficial for healthy older adults as it increased the adults' cognitive abilities.
Learning takes place in many forms. Sometimes we all have to learn due to the changes in our personal life including having children, taking on a new role at work, or global changes such as living with a pandemic. And there are times where we seek deliberate and structural learning such as learning a new hobby, undertaking a personal development course, or obtaining a mini MBA.
In my experience as a mother as well as a student, both children and adults learn more effectively when there's fun and enjoyment involved. Children are better learners when play-based learning is applied. A child’s sense of self, others, community, and all areas of their development is shaped by play-based learning. In Primed To Perform, one of the direct motivators to perform is play. Play occurs when you’re engaging in an activity simply because you enjoy doing it. Curiosity and experimentation are at the heart of play and people intrinsically enjoy learning and adapting. This is probably why I'm enjoying the MBA more so than 15 years ago when I studied Marketing at a university. The content is more directly relevant to me now that I'm working in the discipline, I have autonomy as to when I learn the materials (being in the right headspace), years of wisdom has taught me to be more appreciative of the opportunities I have, and the professor who is delivering this Mini MBA is hilarious! Mark Ritson delivers his MBA in a way that is engaging, fun, and easy to understand and digest. Most importantly, I'm having fun!
Overall the adult learning experience should be developed taking into account the learner’s priorities, motivation, learning needs and objectives, previous knowledge, experiences and competencies, and potential areas of development. The learning effort should be focused on experiences, themes, and real life problems. It needs to adopt a situational and practical approach instead of a theoretical one, should include concrete tasks, and indicate a usable application that is transferable to daily life. Moreover, we should ensure education for anyone is an enjoyable, rewarding, and effective experience.