REFLECTION

When I think of adult education, I think of people who are trying to up skill in some way with
their end goal being employment. On my recent visit to the VTOS centre in Letterfrack I had
the privilege of observing a communications lesson.

From the outset, it was clear to me the tutor was taking a different approach to delivering the
lesson, in comparison to the way lessons would be delivered in a second level setting. I
believe this was largely down to the students. Their levels of motivation allowed the tutor to
focus on the learning outcomes of the lesson, which in this instance was the completion of
questionnaire by the students. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word motivation as The
reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. From talking to the
students taking part in the course, it was evident they have two main reasons for engaging
with the course. The first is their hope of gaining employment; the second, gaining high
enough grades to progress to higher education.

It is my belief that the students are for filling one of the key the stages Maslows Hierarchy of
Needs where by gaining employment they will be able to achieve security in their lives.
While I would like to think adolescents would take the same motivated approach to their
education I believe I would be greatly disappointed to expect this. According to Rogers The
adult learners motivation to learn would be different to that of children (Rogers Jr C)

References
1. Oxford Dictionary.2013. Motivation.Retrieved January 15, 2015, from Oxford
Dictionaries: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/motivation

2. Rogers jr C.2009. Understanding the adult learners motavation and barriers to

learning. Educating the educator [online] vol:1. available at URL:
http://www.academia.edu/1267765/Understanding_the_Adult_Learners_Motivation_a
nd_Barriers_to_Learning. Accesed: 15/01/2015.