Trends in Adult Learning

Adult learners are uniquely challenged in their pursuit of the knowledge and skills required to be successful at work, at home, and sometimes even at play. (Ask any professional who would do almost anything to get better at gardening, tennis, or parenting!) Limitations imposed by busy schedules, budgets, multiple responsibilities, and available energy often restrict or even bar hopeful learners.

At the same time, adult learners are also uniquely motivated and equipped to identify and focus on the areas of development they need most - assuming opportunities and avenues of learning exist that are able accommodate their particular circumstances.  

Alternative and innovative forms of adult education, not exclusively but increasingly found online, have existed for decades; but continuous improvements in technology, collaborative school-industry networks, and institutional attitudes regarding the role of the learner in the educational process have made adult learning even easier.  

1. Flexible learning times and locations - Thanks to increasing numbers of formal educational institutions offering online programs, on-demand courses, non-fixed intakes, and flexible assignment submission dates, adult learners can choose the environment and relative timeline that fits his or her location and schedule.

2. Increasingly sophisticated and easy-to-use cloud-based systems allow students to make progress with relative speed and ease via collaborative project development, student forums, document storage and sharing, and assignment tracking systems like Moodle, Slack, and CampusLogin, as well as Google Doc challengers like Bit, Quip and Zoho. 

3. Virtual learning experiences using VR, AR, and AI technology allow students to participate in the design, creation, evaluation, and improvement stages of professions such as architectural engineering, aircraft construction, emergency response simulation, and video game development.

4. Broadened partnerships between education providers and employing industries, including work experience, internships, simulated pre-employment testing, and on-site mentorship programs, continue to provide win-win solutions for all stakeholders and streamlined, employment-oriented courses and outcomes.    

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Sources: 

Erstad, Will, Online vs. Traditional Education: What You Need to Know (Rasmussen College, 2017) https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/online-vs-traditional-education-answer-never-expected/

Halpin, Susan, Trends in Adult Learning (University of Massachusetts Medical School, 2018) https://news.nnlm.gov/ner/2018/05/01/trends-in-adult-learning/

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, Education 2020 (2014) 
http://government-2020.dupress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Education-+-sources-11-7-14_Ramani-proofread.pdf.

Wentworth, David, 5 Trends for the Future of Learning and Development (2014)
 https://trainingmag.com/5-trends-future-learning-and-development

Vander Ark, Tom, 10 Current and Emerging Trends in Adult Learning (2017)  
http://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/09/10-current-and-emerging-trends-in-adult-learning/