MOTIVATIONAL TECHNIQUES AND TIPS TO MOTIVATE ADULT LEARNERS

Malcolm Knowles was the pioneer theorist in the field of adult learning .He identified the following characteristics of adult learners: 1) Adults are autonomous and self-directed. 2) Adults have accumulated a foundation of life experiences and knowledge that may include work-related activities, family responsibilities, and previous education. 3) Adults are goal-oriented. 4) Adults are relevancy-oriented. 5) Adults are practical, focusing on aspects of a lesson most useful to them in their work. 6) Adults need to be shown respect. So, Motivational Techniques for Adult Learners are important. Adults, unlike children, teenagers and students, in most cases, have a lot of things on their minds and learning course is probably the last one of them. In addition, adult learners don't see the rewards of their efforts as soon as they would expect, and giving them candy doesn't work as it works with children. Also, academic habits, once possessed are also long forgotten. Last but not the least , a lot of the learners are often forced to take on Learning course to enhance their skills, keep their job, get a job, or continue further with their career plans. All this makes it difficult to motivate learners and make them active participants. Here are some Tips to Motivate Adult Learners that can be tried upon