Adult Learners in Higher Education and Training - Essay Example

Contract learning has been the mode of learning that has been currently adopted among adult learners. This learning technique is an alternative to structured learning. Malcolm Knowles considers contract learning as student-centred learning that replaces the plan content with a learning process (Knowles, Holton III, Swanson, 2012). This makes the learning process self-directed and independent thereby allowing students’ intensely participation and involvement in their own learning. According to Knowles, teachers for adult learners should make their students participate actively in the learning process rather than making them passive recipients in knowledge creation (Knowles, 1995).

The main aim of contract learning is to make students learning centers in their own learning process rather than making teachers the center of learning. Therefore, the use of contract learning is to solve learning problems by reducing several differences between different learning groups.The lower end will be pulled towards the middle so that they are not left far behind while the upper end will be involved so that they are never bored during the leaning process. Therefore, contract learning is a sure way of helping the student meet their learning or educational needs on their own (Knowles, 1995).

Developing of Learning ContractDeveloping a learning contract need the teacher to have both cognitive and personal learning styles. Moreover, the teacher has the diagnostic sense to enable personal learning and understanding of the teaching tools and needs of students Knowles, Holton III, Swanson, 2012. These tools enable the teacher to draw specific needs and objective of the contract learning process. Therefore, it is upon the teacher to formulated specific, clear, realistic, and understandable objectives of the contract learning.