Education Case

SUMMARY

Christian Bass stated "As the demographics of American education change, it is wise for educators to change along with them." (Bass 2012, p.387) Adult learning has been researched since the 1920's and for changes to be made we must first understand how adults learn. (Cercone) Online education has increased the number of adult learners in the education system. "More distance learning programs are being developed annually; therefore increasing numbers of adults learners will be tapping into this new resources for education." (Cercone, 2008, p.137)

Andragogy made huge differences between elementary and secondary education and was introduced by Malcom Knowles. Adragogy later was criticized as more of a theory and now is more of a foundation for emergent theory. Adragogy did attempt to define the differences between the adult and childhood learning experience. (Cercone 2008)

Experiential learning is a accumulation of three key components. Basically, knowledge of concepts, prior knowledge applied currently and assessment that produces growth. (Cercone 2008) Much like experiential learning the transformative learning theory is about what you are doing with your knowledge. The transformative learning theory was influenced by Jack Mezirow. His theory proposes that it should change our way of seeing the world. According to Palloff and Pratt (1999), "the goal of transformative learning to to understand why we see the world the way we do and to shake off the constraints of the limiting perspective we have carried with us into the learning experience"(p.129). This learning theory is focused on helping the learner process their own experiences and bring meaning to it. (Cercone 2008)

Self directed learning turned the focus to the learner and challenges the educator to do the same. (Bass 2012) Self-directed learning is more of a recent theory and older theories were more teacher driven and passive. Self-directed learning places much more responsibility on the student to take the information and learn from it. "The consideration of the individuality of each person is critical to teaching adults." (Cercone 2008)

REFLECTION

It is evident in 2012 that online education and distance learning is on the rise. The education experience is changing seemingly on a daily basis for everyone from the adult learner to those entering kindergarten. Our reaction to these changes need to be heavily researched and focused on that of the learner's education.

The theory of Andragogy laid the foundation or the framework for every other theory and study by teaching us that there is a difference in that of adult education and primary education. With the constant changes