Webliography: Adult Learning Theories, Transformative Learning, and Learning Styles

Note: All websites were evaluated using the WWW Cyberguide for Content Evaluation worksheet found at . While researching websites for a graduate course at Capella University, I found a great deal of wonderful information concerning adult learning theory, transformative learning, and different learning styles. This is the results of that search...enjoy!

Adult Learning Theory Websites

Teaching Tips Index: How People Learn

• This site is relevant to the topic of learning theories as it provides a vast amount of information on how learning theories apply to teaching and student retention. The information is in table format with interactive links to various websites discussing theories in education.

• The site is maintained by the Honolulu Community College Intranet, which is a subsidiary of the University of Hawaii. The table of links for "How People Learn" is easy to navigate, easy to read, and has links to various tools for educators in all areas of learning theories. Not only does the website have the section on learning theories, it has many other tables that provide links to various teaching tips from assessment to design to learner motivation.

• The links provided are as follows:

Ø 30 Things About Teaching Adults: Zemke, R. & Zemke, S. (1984)

Ø Achieving Success with Adult Learners: Barnes, L. (2005)

Ø Adult Learning: Edmunds, C., K. Lowe, M. Murray, & A. Seymour (1999)

Ø Active Learning: Fink, L. (1999)

Ø How Students Learn vs. How We Teach: Gardiners, L. (1998)

Ø The Keirsey Tests: Links to Keirsey tests on temperament and character

Ø Using the Keirsey Test Data: Blumhardt, J. (nd)

Ø Learning Assumptions: No author (believe to be written by curriculum directors of the University of Hawaii)

Ø Learning Domains: No author (see above)

Ø Principles of Adult Learners: California Nurses Association, AIDS Train the Trainer Program for Health Care Providers (1988)

Ø Principles of Adult Learning: Lieb, S. (1991)

Ø Learning Style Inventory: LD Pride (for a price) inventory report

Ø The VARK Inventory: Fleming, N. (2006)

This site scored 75% viable. It lacked in revision dates and authorship of the website itself. A quick search of the main site showed that the University of Hawaii maintains the site for their faculty. It was easily navigated and very appealing visually.

Supportive Materials for "Adult Learning" Session 1: ASTD Train-the-Trainer Program

• This website lays out the first session of a training-the-trainer seminar facilitated by Roger Hiemstra. Dr. Hiemstra is a professor of adult education at Syracuse University in New York. He has authored and co-authored many books on adult education and his research specialty is adult learning theories. This particular site breaks down the research on adult learning and is very relevant to the topic of adult learning theories.

• Dr. Hiemstra's site provides various methods on how to apply the theory of adult education to instruction. Sections on the site range from definitions of concepts to psychology of adult learning with very detailed tables for designing instruction for adult learners utilizing the learning concepts he presents.

• Learners can find the following sections, along with an extensive bibliography that can be used for further research on the theories of adult learning.

Ø Some Definitions and Concepts

Ø Steps to Consider in Planning for Effective Instruction

Ø Adult Motivation Toward Learning

Ø Some Research Findings

Ø Psychology of Adult Learning

Ø Checklist for Analyzing the Learning Environment

Ø Preparing an Adequate Space

Ø The SPATIAL Model

Ø Importance of Initial Contact with Learners

Ø The Potential Impact on Learning of Various Obstacles

Ø Potential for Racism as Interference

Ø Making a Commitment to New Practices as a Teacher or Trainer of Adults

This website scored 83% viable. The sponsor of the site was not easily accessible and the organization could have been better (live links to in-page sections would have made it easier to navigate). There was very little interactivity, but the links to Dr. Heimstra's main page were active and provided much background needed in order to verify his expertise in the subject.

Professional Development Module: Learning Theory and the Adult Learner

• This website was created by Vicky Lara from El Paso Community College. It outlines learning theories and how they correlate to the adult learner. It is supported by the Texas Collaborative for Teaching Excellence and very relevant to the topic of adult learning theories.

• This site is chock full of great links to adult learning theory research, along with being very thorough. There are teaching tips, lesson plans, resources for online books, articles, and journals. The website is covering the basics of learning theories, touching on several different areas from the leading theorists. Laid out in encyclopedia style with active links, the site is a great resource for educators of adults who are looking for a place to start.

• Learners can add to their resource list through this site. Ms. Lara gives many links that are all "live" that relate directly to learning across the lifespan. Her definitions of the theories and concepts are easily understood and yet very thorough. The nonprofessional could gain much from this site, as well as the professional.

This site scored 92% viable. The information on the author was not easily retrieved, nor were her credentials. The information provided though showed her expertise in adult learning theories. Interaction was top-notch along with additional resources. The site was up-to-date and frequently "refurbished".

DMOZ Open Directory of Education: Learning Theories

• The DMOZ directory provides links to different theories. As an open directory it is comparable to a search engine, yet it provides a more detailed and direct format for those that are using it. This particular directory covers just about every conceivable learning theory that has presented itself to education over the past 100 years.

• Educators needing quick access to the various learning theories will find DMOZ a quick and easy way to find it. Each section links to a page that lists various websites relating to the main topic. Most of the sites are peer-reviewed and checked for viability on a regular basis.

• Learners can use this for further research on learning theories, particularly adult learning theories. The format is easy to use and the links are active and up-to-date.

• As DMOZ is an open directory, it was a little hard to evaluate. It scored a low 45% on the Cyberguide Evaluation sheet. The low score relates to the non-authorship of it's links and the limited capability of finding out what links are peer-reviewed and those that are not. For general research, it is a good starting point.

Transformative Learning Websites

Creating Learning Communities:

• This site is the direct link to the online book from the Creative Learning Communities Online Resource Center. The goal of the group is to create a new consciousness in education that is student-centered and transformational in nature. The website is a Mandela created to represent the transformation in learning, each petal of the Mandela linking to a section of the book. Although the site itself does not speak of transformative learning as a "theory", it does speak in depth about the process of transformation through lifelong learning and communities of learning.

• The research done by the Creative Learning community is extensive and there are some very well known 21^st century contributions made to the creation of this online community and the book itself. The book is free to download and represents much of what transformative learning is all about, from many different scopes. Holistic education is a focus of the community, along with lifelong learning and its impact on the individual and society.

• Learners can benefit from this site by getting a different perspective on transformative learning and joining in an interactive community that practices transformative learning. Sections in the book include:

Ø Philosophies of Learning Communities: Miller (2003).

Ø Learning to Become: Creating Evolutionary Learning Community through Evolutionary Systems Design: Laszlo & Laszlo (2000)

Ø The Alternative Learning Center: Houk (2000)

Ø Pathfinder Learning Center: Hornick (2000)

The site scored 72% on the Cyberguide scale. The lack of direct correlation to transformative learning was a downfall, and yet many of the links directly related to transformative learning albeit in a round about way. Navigation was easy from the main page, ease of reading the font and colors of page were not. Another downfall was the site had not been updated since 2003. This site may or may not be beneficial to all...it is time consuming in navigation. Downloading the book in document form might be an easier read.

The Theory and Practice of Transformative Learning: A Critical Review

• The relevancy of this site is very clear in the title. This site directly links to Edward Taylor's research on transformative learning. Although written in 1998, Taylor's research relates directly to transformative learning even today. Dr. Taylor is the consulting editor for "Adult Education Quarterly" and core faculty member at Antioch University in Seattle.

• The website/research paper relates to educators that are seeking a more critical review of Meizrow's transformational theory of learning by looking at unpublished research and several other empirical and theoretical research (from the author's executive summary). The in-depth review along with Dr. Taylor's support provides a needed alternative view of transformational learning.

• Learners that are looking for more information and resources dealing with transformative learning will gain much from this website. The link backs to other articles in the Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education also provide more information on transformative learning.

The website scored 86%. Lacking in interactive links to Dr. Taylor's other research was one downfall. A few of the link provided did not work, yet the majority of them did. An available update was not applicable.

Learning Styles Websites

Indiana State University Center for Teaching and Learning

• Directly relating to learning styles and the methods to employ in teaching them, the Indiana State University site is very relevant to the topic of learning styles in education.

• Educators will find extensive research on learning styles at this website along with lesson plans to fit each style of learning. Links are also offered for learning style tools that evaluate learners and teachers style of learning. Topics covered are:

Ø Personality levels

Ø Information processing

Ø Social Interaction Models

Ø Instructional Preferences

There are also link backs to the learning style main page and other sections of the Center's online tools for teaching and learning.

• Learners can get a lot from this site and its links. The Center is readily accessible for all users, leaving a slew of information at the fingertips of learners. Linking back to the learning style main page learners can find substantial information on different learning styles, why there are learning styles, and how to utilize your own personal style of learning to fully enhance your educational experience.

This site scored 100% on the evaluation sheet. Providing meaningful links to various styles, ease of navigation, unbiased and supported research, the University has provided a great resource for educators and learners.

Learning Styles

LearnActivity.com

• LearnActivity is a website dedicated to providing insight into the 21^st century educational world. Their section on learning styles is relevant to the topic as it addresses learning styles that by categorizing them into three distinct categories: perceptual modality, information processing, and personality patterns

• The website focuses on the learner and applying the different categories to the classroom forum. Educators can gain from this site by studying the categories and then looking at the numerous links the authors provide supporting each section and the learning styles that fit into those categories. Links are provided for journal articles, dissertations, and books that deal with learning styles. Researching the whole website educators will find a great resource for various methods of pedagogy and andragogy for the 21^st century.

• Learners can benefit from not only the basic information provided on the different categories but also from the information the authors provide for further research. This website is aimed at learners of education and educators, but would provide powerful insight for others who may just want the basics of how they learn and why.

The site scored an 86% on the evaluation. One of the weaknesses was lack of complete links within the page itself. Although the entire "web" provided ample information, the section on learning styles lacked in content. Links provided were 90% accurate, a couple of them returned 404 errors. A date providing when the site was last updated was not provided.

Learning Styles

• This is one of the most inclusive websites found for learning styles. Set up as a directory, the links provided on this site provided by Emerging Technologies is beyond the normal directory (such as DMOZ and Google Scholarly). Emerging Technologies has over 15,000 resources that have been organized by topic. Within its learning styles section, the first article is written by one of Capella's own, Dr. Dennis Mills!

• Educators will appreciate this site as it is created by and for them. There are articles concerning ADD, learning style inventories, articles, personal learning tests, and much more. Not only a great resource for furthering educational practice, the site can provide insight for educators who are in need of more information relating to a specific learning style.

• Learners can utilize this site for research, furthering their own knowledge on learning styles, finding out their own learning style, and applications dealing with learning styles.

The site scored a 74%. Lack of update information and contact information was a main downfall. Emerging Technologies are the main "authors" for the site, but I could not easily find any contact information for them. I did finally; two of the email addresses were not active. The navigation was okay, it might be a little easier to sift through the information if it were broken down into smaller categories.

Smart Teaching Learning Styles

• Smart Teaching is a web community that builds on different research to address important issues in education today. Their learning styles section is written by Dr. Ron Fitzgerald. It covers the need for schools to use learning styles effectively with a breakdown on the four main learning styles. The whole site addresses several different aspects of knowledge and how to apply different styles of learning and education to fully enhance the experiences of all learners.

• Educators can use Dr. Fitzgerald's article on this website to analyze how they are addressing different learning styles in their own classrooms. The whole site provides some wonderful links to everything from knowledge acquirement to using different styles and emotional intelligence. The information is up-to-date and thorough.

• Learners can find in-depth descriptions on several different areas of learning styles. Taking a deeper look into the way the brain acquires knowledge, how educators can look at the styles, and how to find out if methods are being used correctly, the site provides a great resource for research and general knowledge.

The site scored an 83%. The main site (listed above) did not provide authors names or dates, each individual site that was checked did. Navigation was easy as were the link backs.

References:

Coalition for Self-Learning (2003). Creating learning communities. Retrieved August 10, 2006.

DMOZ (2006). Open directory: Education: Methods and Learning: Learning Theories. Retrieved August 10, 2006

Emerging Technologies (nd). Learning styles. Retrieved August 12, 2006

Heimstra, R. (nd). Supportive materials for "Adult Learning" session 1: ASTD train-the-trainer program. Retrieved August 5, 2006

Indiana State University (2006). Center for teaching and learning. Retrieved February 17, 2005

Lara, V. (2005/2006). Professional development module: Learning theory and the adult learner. Retrieved August 10, 2006

LearnActivity (2005). Learn activity learning styles. Retrieved August 10, 2006

SmartTeaching (nd). Smart teaching topic list one. Retrieved August 10, 2006

Taylor, E. (1998). The theory and practice of transformative learning: A critical review. Retrieved April 23, 2006

University of Hawaii (nd). Teaching tips index: How people learn. Retrieved August 5, 2006