Adult Learning Theories & Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real CAE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Adult Learning Theories & Principles flashcards as text
In Mezirow's Transformative Learning theory, what is a 'disorienting dilemma'?
Answer: A triggering event that causes learners to question their existing frame of reference
A disorienting dilemma is a crisis or life event that challenges a learner's existing worldview and initiates the process of perspective transformation.
Which concept best describes Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) as applied to adult education?
Answer: The gap between what a learner can do independently and what they can do with guidance
The ZPD represents the range of tasks a learner cannot yet do alone but can accomplish with instructor or peer support, guiding instructional scaffolding.
Carl Rogers' humanistic approach to adult education emphasizes which of the following?
Answer: Learner-centered facilitation and self-actualization
Rogers advocated for learner-centered education where the facilitator creates conditions for self-directed growth and self-actualization rather than directing instruction.
According to Tough's self-directed learning research, what percentage of adult learning projects are planned by the learner themselves?
Answer: About 70%
Tough's research found that approximately 70% of adult learning projects are self-planned, highlighting adults' natural inclination toward self-direction.
Which learning theory posits that adults learn best when they can immediately apply new knowledge to solve real-life problems?
Answer: Andragogy
Knowles' andragogy emphasizes problem-centered orientation, meaning adults are motivated to learn when content directly applies to real-life challenges they face.
In Bandura's Social Learning Theory, which factor is most critical for an adult learner to attempt a new behavior?
Answer: Self-efficacy, or belief in one's own ability to succeed
Bandura identified self-efficacy as the key determinant of whether learners will attempt, persist in, and succeed at new behaviors.
Which instructional approach aligns most closely with Experiential Learning Theory's 'active experimentation' stage?
Answer: Applying a learned skill in a simulation or real-world setting
Active experimentation in Kolb's cycle involves testing concepts and trying out new behaviors in practical situations, such as simulations or on-the-job application.