Learner-Learning Environment Fit

ABSTRACT

The person-environment paradigm is pivotal to our profession; however, few social work educators have utilized this theoretical perspective to shape curricula or to advance teaching practices that take into account what we know about the adult learner (Coulshed, 1993) and the learning environment (Knowles, 1972). In this article, the authors propose a model of social work education based on recent theoretical developments and research findings in the field of adult learning. The model consists of three phases of learning: the decision to learn, the learning process, and the learning outcome. Characteristics of the adult learner (motivation, personal attributes, cognitive development, learning style) and conditions of the learning environment (physical, interpersonal, and socio-cultural) are emphasized in the model.