Building Knowledge of Adult Learners
Slide 1-Building Knowledge of Adult Learners
Slide 2 – Adult Learners – Picture or a word cloud with the following words:
•	Andragogy
•	Education
•	Experience
•	Learners
•	Delivery
•	Learning
•	Philosophy
•	Course
•	Self
•	Adult
•	Careers
•	Goals
•	Design
Slide 3 – Five principles of Adult Learning (picture of stick figure children standing in a circle holding hands around the word LEARN)
•	Personal Benefit
•	Experience
•	Self-direction
•	Application and Action
•	Learning Styles
Slide 4 – Academic Impact Model – (illustration showing a tiered approach).
•	Level 4 - Teacher knowledge, skills and beliefs
•	Level 3 – Teacher Action
•	Level 2 – Student Understanding and Actions
•	Level 1 – Student Outcomes and Results
Slide 5 – Adult Learner Characteristics (picture of new house under construction)
•	Resistors
•	Redecorators
•	Renovators
•	Accessorizers
Slide 6 – Coaching Adult Learners
•	Table discussions:
•	Room to Improve Article 
•	Teacher Characteristics Coaching Guide
Slide 7 – the Resistors
•	Overt resistance: anger, resentment
•	Covert resistance: avoidance behavior 
•	Lack of engagement
•	Dramatic refusals
•	Verbal acknowledgement of disagreement
•	Disdain for new practices
Slide 8 - Reaching the Resistors (picture of two men talking, each wearing hardhats)
Reasons for Resisting…
Turn and share an experience you have had with a resistor.
Slide 9 - Reaching the Resistors (picture of two men talking, each wearing hardhats)
Reasons:
•	Fear, frustration, or anger
•	Feeling threatened
•	Lack of skills and covers up
•	Personal issues/illness
•	Cynical due to so many initiatives over the years
Turn and share your experience with a resistor.
Slide 10 - Reaching the Resistor
Try to uncover the real reason for the resistance
•	Wearing a Mask – the teacher has a fear of anyone knowing she is not as knowledgeable as she has pretended
•	Cynical about another initiative or change
•	Health issues
•	Fear, frustration or anger
•	Feeling threatened
(picture of construction worker)
Slide 11 - The Redecorators – (picture of an old chair)
•	Deep beliefs about teaching and learning.
•	Implements approaches, but will not release beliefs.
•	Holds strong to traditional beliefs regarding teaching.
•	Not usually “showy”
•	Strong command of content
Slide 12 - Reaching the Redecorators (picture of a new chair)
•	Give them time and care.
•	Explain the logistics.
•	Understand their workable solutions before they try new practices.
•	They believe in the idea of new practices but don’t think they are workable.
•	Approach them on an intellectual level
Turn and share your experience with a redecorator.
Slide 13 - The Renovators (picture of a big, beautiful house)
•	Knowledgeable of content
•	Willing to consider change
•	Reflective about beliefs
•	Motivated by students
•	Personal need to grow
•	Understands risk taking
•	Good classroom management
•	Views change as a complex journey, not the final destination
Slide 14 - The Renovators (picture of hands removing a block from a stack of blocks)
•	Motivated and open to NEW ideas BUT MAY…
•	allow other’s resistance or cynicism to discourage them
•	become frustrated with lack of resources 
•	become so excited that anxious about timeline and implementation
•	require extra support
Slide 15 - The Accessorizers (picture of a mirror)
•	Outspoken advocate but trouble implementing in their own classrooms
•	Shallow understanding of the principles behind the practice
•	Talks the talk
•	Limited ability for self-reflection
•	Teaching students the names of strategies but not helping them understand their  purpose or how to use them for their own learning
•	High perception of personal competence, often reinforced by parents, administrators, and students
Slide 16 - Require a delicate balance between affirming efforts and honest feedback (picture of a vase of flowers)
MAY NOT…
•	have background knowledge to understand or implement new practices
•	be accustomed to reflecting
•	know the purpose of their instruction
MAY…
•	Enjoy the showy qualities of teaching 
•	Be enthusiastic, charming, popular and have a desire to do the right thing for students
Slide 17 - Putting Your DIY Skills to the Test!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfbvspitraU&list=PLmFr8dtDPc_3YlnvNlt4cfeX8UvjXxpk2
•	View video
•	Discuss with your tablemates and identify the teacher traits you might connect to this teacher.
Slide 18 - Coaching a Variety of Learners (picture of man and woman talking and looking at papers)
Based on what you viewed how might you adjust the coaching provided?
Slide 19 – Putting your DIY Skills to the Test!
http://rmls.florida-ese.org/#/section/3/VocabularyLessons/s1zzz6s7h9
•	View video
•	Discuss with your tablemates and identify the teacher traits you might connect to this teacher.
Slide 20 - Coaching a Variety of Learners (picture of several adults talking)
Based on what you viewed how might you adjust the coaching provided?
Slide 21 - Facilitating Adult Learning
Picture of a word cloud with the following words:
•	Professional
•	Teachers
•	Growth
•	Skills Development 
•	Resources
•	Knowledge
•	Learning
Slide 22 – Facilitating Adult Learning (picture of person writing on a piece of glass)
•	The Learning Environment
•	Learning Resources
•	Instructional Design
•	Session Planning
•	Communication
•	Listening/Questioning/Feedback
•	Evaluation
Slide 23 - In Closing…(picture of a golden apple)
•	Literacy Coaches honor the characteristics of adult learners.
•	Honor each adult learner as an individual whose needs and interests are respected and
incorporated into the coach/learner relationship.
Slide 24 - Action Plan
How will you use this information about adult learners to coach your teachers as you develop your action plan?
Slide 25 – www.fLDOE.org