Adult Learning Theory: The Barriers to Applying Adult Learning Theory

The field of adult learning theory, or how adults learn, has exploded in recent years yielding increased knowledge and awareness of how adults learn. While preachers do have a wide variety of ages in their congregations, most of the people they preach to are adults. This dissertation looks at preaching and adult learning theory and what the barriers are to harnessing the knowledge and insight adult learning theory provides to those who preach to adults. Every major area of adult learning theory is examined including andragogy, Kolb's learning styles, self-directed learning, and transformative learning. Some of the key theorists discussed are Malcolm Knowles, David Kolb, and Jack Mezirow. The preachers included in the research were senior pastors, lead pastors, and solo pastors of US Mennonite Brethren churches in California, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. All of them are the main preacher of their church. The pastors were invited to take a survey, fill out participants' journals, and participate in a focus group. These asked about how they prepare their sermons, what resources and tools they use in sermon preparation, and if they would be open to changing how they preach. The findings showed that preachers do not normally consider resources that are not traditional preaching tools. A second finding revealed that preachers do not have much knowledge about how adults learn. A third finding indicated that preachers are willing to make changes to their preaching style. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]