Do the Principles of Adult Learning Maximize Training Efficiency and Efficacy for Pediatric Otolaryngologists?

by Linda Kossoff •

What are the key principles of adult learning that distinguish it from how children learn, and how can these principles guide pediatric otolaryngologists in their practices with trainees, patients, and colleagues?

BOTTOM LINE

Pediatric otolaryngologists who apply adult learning principles with trainees will maximize both the efficiency and efficacy of the learning process.

COMMENT: This is a wonderful article summarizing numerous key concepts and theories applicable to adult learners. The information contained in this review is not only relevant to educators, but also practicing otolaryngologists as life-long learners. —Sarah Bowe, MD

BACKGROUND: Adults differ from children in how they approach and participate in learning experiences. These differences, related in part to their intrinsic motivation, prior knowledge and skills, and orientation to learning, are outlined in adult learning theory (ALT). Pediatric otolaryngologists can apply the principles of ALT in common educational experiences such as surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Literature review.

SETTING: Department of Otolaryngology, Cohen Children’s Medical Center/Long Island Jewish Medical Center at Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

SYNOPSIS: ALT, advanced by American educator Malcolm Knowles, underscores the contrast between children (pedagogy) and adults (andragogy) in their learning environments and preferences. The authors discuss key care points for pediatric otolaryngologists when applying ALT with trainees: 1) Engage a respect for learners’ autonomy, prior knowledge, and need for problem-focused learning. 2) Embrace the proximal application of the content to improve the learning experience. 3) Maintain trainees at the upper end of their abilities and continually challenge them with deliberately difficult tasks to help maximize the efficiency and efficacy of teaching. 4) Chunk complex tasks into smaller component parts to improve trainees’ ability to focus and remember and prevent them from getting easily overwhelmed. 5) Understand that trainee confidence in a particular domain can have a direct effect on improving performance even without skill development. The authors emphasize the impact that understanding adult learning principles and theories can have on learning and teaching in today’s time-constrained era. They stress how applying ALT effectively equips today’s trainees to invoke the same strategies when teaching the next generation.

CITATION: Gantwerker EA, Lee GS. Principle of adult learning: Tips for the pediatric otolaryngologist. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2022;55:1311–1320.