Which statement reflects adult learning principles (andragogy)?

• A. Adults learn best when lectures are lengthy and content is unrelated to daily work.
• B. Adults are self-directed, bring experience, require relevance, and prefer problem-centered learning.
• C. Adults require rigid curricula with fixed pacing.
• D. Adults learn primarily through external motivation rather than internal relevance.

Answer: (B)

Adult learning principles emphasize that learners are self-directed, bring rich experiences to the table, need learning to be relevant to their work or goals, and prefer solving real problems rather than absorbing unrelated content. This statement captures all of those elements: it acknowledges autonomy, the value of prior experience, the necessity of relevance, and a problem-centered approach. It aligns with how adults engage with learning and how to design effective development experiences—for example, using real-world scenarios drawn from daily work and letting learners choose paths or tasks that connect to their objectives.

Why the other ideas don’t fit as well: long lectures with content unrelated to daily work overlook relevance and practical application; rigid curricula with fixed pacing undermine autonomy and the ability to connect new knowledge to one’s experience; reliance on external motivation rather than internal relevance ignores the strong pull of personal goals and intrinsic interest that often drives adult learning.