Peter Jarvis Learning Theory

1. Learning Process Theory
Elizabeth P. Burns
Walden University
Richard W. Riley School of Education and Leadership
Adult Education Program
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2. Learning Objectives
 Define Jarvis’ Learning Process
Theory.
 Who influenced Jarvis' Learning
Process.
 The major components of the
learning process.
 The three stages of learning.
 How Jarvis’ Process relate to adult
learners & educators.
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3. Introduction and Background
 British scholar, researcher, and
speaker.
 Professor of Continuing Education in
UK.
 Adjunct Professor at University of
Georgia.
 Authored and edited 200 articles.
 Critiqued more than 30 books.
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4. Reflections
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5. Life Situation
Reflect on a
time in your life
when you were
faced with a
situation you
were
unprepared to
handle.

6. Right or Wrong Decision
Did the reflection
or situation lead
you to think you
made the right or
the wrong
decision?
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7. Emotions
What emotion(s) did you feel from this reflection?
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8. Change
Did your
reflection change
your behavior
and how you
now view the
world?
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9. New Learning
Did you learn
something that
would be useful
later in life?
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10. Role of the Adult Learner
Adults learn as a whole person.
Adults bring prior knowledge, experience,
and personal history.
Adults understand the “whys” of life.
Adults are able to make sense of life
situations.
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11. Jarvis Learning Process
 “is the combination of processes where the whole person
experiences social situations, in which the content is
transformed and integrated into the individual's biography
resulting in a changed or more experienced person.”
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12. Who influenced Jarvis Learning Process
Model?
 David Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory
 Learning entails four elements:
Concrete experience
Observation and reflection
Formation of abstract concepts
Testing in new situation
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13. Four Elements of Kolb's Theory
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14. Jarvis’s Learning Process Model
 Built on foundation from Kolb's theory.
 Begins with adult life experience or life situation.
 Links the whole person.
– mind, body, self, and life history
 Causes a disjuncture between person's biography and
the experience.
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15. Learning Process Chart
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16. Jarvis’ Three Stages of Learning
 No-Learning
 Non-Reflective learning
 Reflective Learning
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17. Non-Learning Stage
 No learning takes place.
 Only three responses:
– Presumption
– Non-consideration
– Rejection
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18. Non-Reflective Stage
 Some learning occurs. The
person:
– experiences pre-
conscious
– practices the
experience
– memorizes the
experience or new
information

19. Reflective Learning Stage
 The learner now reflects
on what has taken place.
Three types
-Contemplation
-Reflective
-Experiential
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20. Reflective Stage – “Life Experience”
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21. How does Jarvis Model relates to adult
learners?
 Affects person positively or negatively .
 Person learns new meaning of the world
and events.
 Person has changed, become more
experienced, more able to cope with life
situations or problems.
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22. Role of the Educator
Help adults make sense of daily life.
Link explanations and illustrations.
Link activities to experiences.
Be creative.
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23. Summary
 Adult learning begins with an experience.
 Learner senses have been transformed.
 Learner advances to the next stage of lifelong learners.
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24. References
International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame. Retrieved
February 12, 2013 from
http://www.halloffame.outreach.ou.edu/1997/jarvis.html.
Jarvis, P. (1987). Adult learning in the social context. New York: Croom Helm
(Retrieved 3/7/2013 from www.adulteducation.wikibook.us/index
Jarvis, P. (2006). Towards a comprehensive theory of human learning:
Lifelong learning and the learning society (Vol. 1). London & New York:
Routledge.
Jarvis, P. Retrieved from www.infed.org/biblio/b-explrn.htm
Kolb, D. A. (1984). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experiential_learning.
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25. References (con’t)
Merriam, S. B., Caffarella, R. S., & Baumgartner, L. M. (2007).
Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide (3rd ed.). San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Picture retrieved from
http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/politics/images/staffprofileimages/p
eter_jarvis.jpg on 3/20/2013.
Video clips retrieved from www.movieclips.com on 3/29/2013.
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