Adult education may occur in the office, at a secondary faculty, in an adult learning center at universities or at community universities.  Over the last few decades, analysts have revealed that adult pupils are very different from kids in how they learn and what they need from an instructor.  This collective body of analysis is often known as the’adult learning theory.’ Many well known psychologists have written on this subject, that has recently come into the spotlights since so many male and female adults are looking to further their studies, acquire new PC talents and advance in the workforce. 

The 1st adult learning styles papers were published by adult learning theory pioneer David Kolb in 1984.  He argued that there are 4 distinct learning styles : Diverging, Assimilating, Converging and Accommodating and that there are 4 phases for each style, which are Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization and Active Experimentation. ‘Divergers’ are sensitive and emotional, prefer to observe instead of do, enjoy brainstorming and information gathering, and are receptive to feedback. ‘Convergers’ love technical jobs and problem solving, can simply apply practical uses for theories, are less interested in social-personal issues, and like simulations or new concepts. ‘Assimilators’ need clear explanations and logical reasoning, they are good at organizing data, they’re less concentrated on folk and more inquisitive about abstract concepts, and they like readings and analytical models to further their understanding.  Lastly,’Accommodators’ are hands-on and intuitive, they like to use folks’s experiences, they love new challenges and experiences, they like working in groups and they prefer to work in the field.  Once new information has been absorbed, adults will then make observations based on their experiences, create ideas and actively test these concepts in actuality. 

Many successive concepts outline adult learning theories further by trying to classify personality types.  For example, Carl Jung talked about’introverts’ and’extroverts,’ which discovers how someone is comfortable changing to the planet.  The Myers-Briggs Personality Test inspects different personality types like ENFP, INTJ, etc .  Analysts Honey & Mumford talk about’activists,”pragmatists,”theorists’ and’reflectors.’ lastly, Howard Gardner talks about how adults learn faster by different strategies — whether it’s by sight, sound, touch, spatial reasoning or interpersonal modes.  This theory is known as’Multiple Intelligences Theory,’ which has latterly helped many adults achieve levels of competency they never thought possible. 

In Howard Gardner’s adult learning theory of’Multiple Intelligences,’ he professes that not every individual learns the same way.  The underlying presumption is that maybe many students fall behind at school because so much stress is placed on reading-and-instant-absorption, which isn’t how all students learn best.  He says there are visual learners who like maps, charts, pictures, videos and movies ; there are oral learners who like words, story telling, humor, writing and talking ; there are logical learners who use reason, numbers, patterns, logic and experiments ; there are kinesthetic learners who use space, movement, touch, coordination and their environment ; there are musical learners who believe in sounds, rhymes and patterns ; there are interpersonal learners who use verbal communication, body language and empathy ; and there are intrapersonal learners who use inner thoughts, feelings, dreams and intuitions.  Naturally, not all female and male adults fall into just one intelligence style.  They may exhibit a combination approach as well , but this style will affect how people learn, understand, remember and select a acceptable career trail.