Judith E. Cox EDLD 6323 September 19, 2006 Chapter 2
Cross, K. P. (1981). Adults
as learners.
When considering psychological comfort for adults, it is important to realize that many adults have a history of failure in school, and low self-esteem as a result. One would expect them not to risk failure again. However, self-directed learning projects occur as often among those who left school early as among successful adults. It is important to create more opportunities where adults are not faced with threats or competition, particularly the threat of standardized tests. Offering job-skills training or basic education courses often is very threatening for learners because how well they do in the course may determine what kind of job they can get. Re-entry women may not have a self-esteem problem, but many wonder how well they will do after years away from school. Many adults who start with a televised or not-for-credit course later come back and enroll for credit when they realize that they can succeed. Sometimes the learning bug spreads in a community when learners succeed and tell their friends. It is also clear that the more formal education people have, the more they want.