# Postgraduate study

**Source**: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/adult-learning-community-development-youth-work/?card=course&code=EDUC5414
**Parent**: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/adult-learning-community-development-youth-work/

[Postgraduate taught](https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/)

# Adult Learning, Community Development & Youth Work Practice MEd/PgDip

## The Psychology Of Adult Learning EDUC5414

- **Academic Session:** 2025-26
- **School:** School of Education
- **Credits:** 20
- **Level:** Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- **Typically Offered:** Semester 2
- **Available to Visiting Students:** Yes
- **Collaborative Online International Learning:** No
- **Curriculum For Life:** No

### Short Description

To promote an awareness of important psychological characteristics of adults as learners taking into account the influence of culture, ethnicity, gender, ageing, personality and political climate.\
\
To promote an understanding of theory and research into adult learning and of the implications for practice.

### Timetable

Lectures and seminars will be held for 10 weeks.

### Assessment

The summative assessment currently consists in two tasks:

- a 1000-word lesson plan (30%)

- a 2500-word essay in which students are asked to criticise two psychological theories related to adult learning and reflect on their teaching and learning practices, considering accessibility and inclusion for learners with a diverse background,  (70%)

**Main Assessment In:** March

### Course Aims

To promote an awareness of important psychological characteristics of adults as learners taking into account the influence of culture, ethnicity, gender, ageing, personality and political climate.\
\
To promote an understanding of theory and research into adult learning and of the implications for practice.

### Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

On completion of this unit, a successful student should be able to:\
a) describe and evaluate at least two theoretical approaches to adult \
development.\
b) discuss possible links between theory and research in adult development \
and the course participants' experience as adult learners and/or adult \
educators.\
c) describe and evaluate humanistic, cognitive and behaviourist theories of \
learning in relation to adult learning.\
d) discuss the extent to which humanistic, cognitive and behaviourist \
theories and related research can be translated into practical guidelines \
to facilitate the teaching and learning of adults.

### Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

None.

\

- [Programme overview](https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/adult-learning-community-development-youth-work/)
- [EDUC5414 reading list](https://glasgow.rl.talis.com/courses/educ5414.html)