Promoting Adult Learning

Abstract

Facilitating is a different approach to learning from the more traditional didactic and Socratic approaches. As a facilitator, the teacher plays the role of enabler so that students are able to learn more by themselves. In this mode teacher and learners become interdependent and draw upon such resources as their experience, their knowledge, their own learning styles etc Before harnessing these resources a number of factors need to be considered which influence whether facilitating is an appropriate method. Additionally, the use of a facilitative style has a number of implications for the training organization, teacher and students in terms of planning, development of expertise and building confidence to use such an approach.