Applying Adult Learning Principles to Employee Training

The purpose of training employees is to increase
their knowledge and improve productivity. It is in
the best interest of both employees and employers to
make the training process as effective as possible.
This study applied the principles of Knowles s
Andragogical Theory to the employee training in the
company studied and identified those principles that
were most effective in improving the training
results from the employees perspective. The
principles of the Andragogical Theory are (1) adults
are motivated to learn as they experience needs and
interests that learning will satisfy , (2) adults
orientation to learning is life-centered, (3)
experience is the richest resource for adult
learning, (4) adults have a deep need to be self-
directing, and (5) individual differences among
people increase with age.
All companies have some form of employee training,
so the results of this study are applicable to any
company interested in improving the effectiveness of
employee training. Leaders of organizations, as well
as trainers, should be able to make use of what this
study has to offer.

Autorentext
Dr. Bruce McEwan is a business executive and a scholar- practitioner, who has a special interest in adult learning. He enjoys employee education and training and believes that applying adult learning principles makes training more effective than when they are not used. Adult learning principles are applicable to all adult learners.

Klappentext
The purpose of training employees is to increase their knowledge and improve productivity. It is in the best interest of both employees and employers to make the training process as effective as possible. This study applied the principles of Knowles's Andragogical Theory to the employee training in the company studied and identified those principles that were most effective in improving the training results from the employees' perspective. The principles of the Andragogical Theory are (1) adults are motivated to learn as they experience needs and interests that learning will satisfy , (2) adults' orientation to learning is life-centered, (3) experience is the richest resource for adult learning, (4) adults have a deep need to be self- directing, and (5) individual differences among people increase with age. All companies have some form of employee training, so the results of this study are applicable to any company interested in improving the effectiveness of employee training. Leaders of organizations, as well as trainers, should be able to make use of what this study has to offer.