1. 1
Adam Clymer
EDU643
Professor Buban
Post University
Misconceptions of Adult Learning

2. 2
What is a misconception?
• A misconception is a false or mistaken view, opinion, or
attitude (Merriam-webster.com, 2012).
• A misconception of adult learning is a false or mistaken view,
opinion, or attitude about the adult learning process or about
the adults involved in education themselves.

3. 3
What causes misconceptions about
adult learning?
• A lack of communication.
• Incorrect or out of date information.
• Not enough research into the facts.
• Negative stereotypes.
• Not enough publicity and marketing.

4. 4
Accessibility, Understanding of New Technologies, and Age

5. 5
Accessibility
Misconception The Truth
• Many people feel that school • More adults are becoming
and education are inside a comfortable with technology
physical classrooms. and the internet.
• Older generations of adults • The dependency on physical
still believe education must be attendance in education is
in a physical form (Jackson, diminishing and the use of
2012). online tools and environments
• Adults feel that there is a time is growing.
constriction on their lives that • Many things that are no longer
would not allow for a return to offered in a physical form, thus
education. forcing adults online (Clark,
2000).

6. 6
Understanding of
New Technologies
Misconception The Truth
• There is a fear of what is not • The younger generation is
known (Collins, 2009). actually aiding in the
• Older generations of learners technological education of the
can be hesitant to accept social adult learner.
media and digital resources • There is a correlation between
into education (Collins, 2009). adult education and the
• A false mentality within adult development of new digital
communities that education is technologies (Collins, 2009).
now a completely digital • There is a rise among adults
experience. who purchase, use, and
understand digital
technologies.

7. 7
Age for Learning
Misconception The Truth
• Societal stigmas associated • Age stereotypes in education
with schooling in one’s mature are becoming more blurred as
years. educational benefits become
• Classrooms filled with more popular with employers
teenagers to young adults and (Fenton, 2004).
only a single adult individual • There has been a twenty-one
among them. percent increase in post-
• There are no traditional secondary education for
options for adults. students over thirty between
• Adult learners would be 2005 and 2011 (NCES, 2011).
treated different from a
professor or classmate.

8. 8
In Conclusion
• Misconceptions are a problem that can easily be solved. Information,
education, and research are the best ways to put the overwhelming majority
of wrong ideas and stigmas to rest in the world of adult education. The
problem is that misconceptions are working against the progress being
made to help adults wishing to enter school again.
• Unfortunately, age is still one of the larger issues that plague conceptions
about higher or furthered education. The first step to elevating the stresses
and tribulations caused by the misconceptions about age is to understand
that adult students make up over twenty five percent of all higher education
students (NCES, 2011). It is disheartening that so many misconceptions are
still in play among the older generations of learners. Perhaps, as the adult
student number grows across the board, those misconceptions will find
their way out of peoples mind and disappear for good.

9. 9
References
Clark, M., & Caffarella, R. (2000). An Update on Adult Development Theory: New Ways of
Thinking about the Life Course. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Collins, A., & Halverson, R. (2009). Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital
revolution and the schools. New York: Teachers College.
Fenton, E. D. (2004). Employer provided education benefits. Retrieved from:
http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/Issues/2004/Sep/EmployerProvidedEducationB
enefits.htm
Jackson, B., & Marsden, D. (2012). Education and the Working Class: The Sociology of
Education. Routledge.
Merriam,S.B., Caffarella, R.S., & Baumgartner, L.M. (2007). Learning in Adulthood, a
comprehensive guide. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Merriam-webster.com. (2012). Definition of Misconception. Retrieved from: http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/misconception.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2011). Fast Facts. Retrieved from: http://nces.ed.gov/
fastfacts/display.asp?id=98.