PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF ADULT EDUCATION

By Shelley Waltonen-Moore, Ph.D., Adult Educator/Facilitator

Dear Learner,
I write this personal philosophy of so that you might know my personal beliefs, values, and
attitudes toward adult education, adult learners, and the educational process. I place a high value
on education and believe that it is the best investment that an individual can make. Learners in
my classroom (whether online or onground) quickly sense that I love what I do for a living and
that I am passionate about helping you pursue your goals. ou will see that I am e!cited and
enthusiastic about your learning. "y positive energy is contagious and I will use this energy to
inspire you and challenge you in an atmosphere that is collaborative and team#spirited. $!pect to
work. $!pect to have a good time while working.
Philosophical Orientation
"y philosophical orientation is primarily grounded into two dominant types. I have been
identified as Progressive, an orientation that utili%es teamwork, believes in practical application
of knowledge, and emphasi%es a problem#solving approach to learning. I have also been
recogni%ed as someone who has a Huanistic orientation, in that I believe in mutual respect and
egalitarianism, while valuing personal growth.
Beliefs about the Learner
I want you to know how much I value and admire your presence and contributions in the
classroom. I recogni%e how hard individuals work throughout the day (and night&) and how
multifaceted, comple!, and busy your lives are. In each class that I have had the pleasure of
teaching, there have been learners that I behold as modern day heroes. 'hese individuals are to
be praised for their determination because they will stop at nothing ( and more importantly ( let
nothing come in#between them and the achievement of their goals. 'hey go to the edge of the
universe to ensure their success, but never at the e!pense of values that they may hold more dear
to them.
"otivated. Intelligent. Diligent. $!perienced. 'hese are words that I use to describe you. our
stamina and determination often leave others feeling breathless as they try to keep pace with you.
ou are goal#oriented, task#driven, and seek to apply knowledge to real world issues. I value
your work ethic. I value the responsibility with which you accept the choices that you have
made.
Overall Purpose of Adult Education
I believe that everyone has the inherent desire and need to be pragmatic, knowledgeable, and
confident. )dult education is here to help you achieve your goals, both personally and
professionally. In return, it will foster a sense of accomplishment within you and reinforce the
value and importance of lifelong learning. I recogni%e that there are a variety of reasons as to
why you have chosen to further your education* some may be more intrinsic, while others are
e!trinsic. )ll are important because they are your goals. I believe that adult education, regardless
of the setting, should have your success, at the heart of its operation. In your educational +ourney,
I recogni%e that there may be other facets in a broader picture that you may need assistance
navigating. I am here to facilitate your success in a holistic manner, whenever possible, as I
acknowledge that the boundaries of our +ourney may e!tend beyond the formal classroom.
Content/Subject Matter
'he content and sub+ect matter that you will e!perience has been designed and implemented in
acknowledgement of your personal and professional goals, while important attention to detail has
been placed on sequencing of content within this class and beyond. ,ourse competencies and
learning ob+ectives have been carefully defined to help ensure real#life application. )lthough a
menu for learning has been chosen, you are welcome to place a -special order. or order -a la
carte. at any time.
I let the ob+ectives drive my utili%ation of learning theory to help you achieve these goals. I
systematically employ an eclectic array of learning theories to accomplish our ob+ectives (
)ndragogical, behavioral, cognitive, social learning, and socio#constructivism, to name a few.
/hile these may be unfamiliar to you, they are carefully selected to ensure your success.
It is my intention that you will see each requirement as one in which you can demonstrate your
knowledge through high levels of critical thinking ( this is the type of learning that demands you
to apply, synthesi%e, and evaluate incoming knowledge. ou will find it a rare occasion in which
you simply regurgitate facts back to me through knowledge#based testing. Instead I seek to make
your learning deep and meaningful* durable and practical.
Learning Process
I believe that adult learners each have a unique learning style which helps foster comprehension.
'o further aid comprehension, I will count as you as a sub+ect matter e!pert. I will rely on all of
us to teach each other and learn from one another. 'o facilitate engaged learning, I will employ a
variety of instructional strategies that will tap our collective potential. 0ome of these strategies
include problem#solving, demonstration, case studies, group discussion, and self#directed
learning.
I use the learning cycle to help me to evaluate when and where I need to make changes in my
instructional delivery. I will frequently design and deliver content completely differently in my
onground class than I will in an online course. I am learner#centered in both settings and will
seek your guidance on what is working, what isn1t working, and how I might best facilitate your
learning.
Conclusion
In conclusion of this personal philosophy, I hope that I have illustrated how I weave my beliefs,
values, and attitudes into our classroom to establish an environment that lends itself to an
orientation that is productive, realistic, and involves hands#on learning whenever possible. I wish
you the utmost success. It is a privilege to be here with you on this educational +ourney together.
I look forward to learning from and with you.
2ondly,
0helley /altonen "oore