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Assumptions about the Adult Learner

Adult learners are diverse and bring many life experiences with them to the learning situation. In the adult education classroom, you will see:

  • A wide range of ages, abilities, job experiences
  • Diverse cultural backgrounds
  • Individuals with a number of personal goals
  • A wide range of educational backgrounds
  • Individuals with a vast number of personal experiences, all of which can be used as learning resources

Adult learners want to be able to relate content that they will learn in the classroom to their own lives. They tend to:

  • Be more practical or matter-of-fact about their learning
  • See education as a way to improve their lives, not just their understanding of specific academic content
  • Let their education take a back seat to meet the needs and responsibilities of their jobs and families
  • Not want to waste time on irrelevant information

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This web-based training program was developed by the State of Florida Adult Basic Education Committee of the Practitioners' Task Force through an Adult Education State Leadership Grant from the
Florida Department of Education, Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education.

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this web-based training component, it is not an official publication of the Florida Department of Education.