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Defining who is an adult learner has not been as easy as I thought it would be.
Traditionally an adult learner would be considered someone who is over 25 and is involved in learning. Yet, I believe that being an adult and an adult learner is not only defined by age, responsibilities, and being self sufficient,  but a recognition that ones life experiences, beliefs, and education can forge a want to be and do more than who we are. Therefore, becoming educated and attending classes is a personal choice that has been made as opposed to an outside expectation that must be met to appease one person or an other.

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I think we as a community define adulthood as the age or time period in an individual's life where they should start contributing to the betterment of humanity. Adulthood is a time where the expectations are switched. Not much is expected of children and most of their actions are seen as extensions of their parents. Well-behaved children are seen as results of parents meeting the expectations while any wrongdoing deflects blame from children to their parents. Children become adults when they are held more accountable for their own actions.

Examples of this difference in expectations include juvenile courts, minimum ages for drug use (tobacco/alcohol/marijuana), and university policies. College is seen as a time to transition children into adults through education of the whole person. It's why cocurricular education is so prevalent in the American undergraduate experience. It's a blend between the in-class structure children have been used to for 12+ years and the independence of choice afforded by "adulthood."

The one significant thing that distinguishes children learners and adult learners is that freedom of choice. Adult learners have the choice to learn wherever they like, regardless of whether they feel like they have the choice. First year undergraduates may feel they are only in class to please parents or impress others but it is still their choice. Others returning to higher education after time in the workforce or for a second degree choose to do so over other potentially successful options. Because adults choose to learn, it is our responsibility as educators to make adults feel like they are learning something worthwhile and that they are spending their time wisely. This becomes particularly important from the perspective of retention as educators in K-12 have less of that incentive to make education attractive for their students.

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I agree with many of the posts here. I think an adult learner is someone outside of the K-12 education years, who has gotten experience outside of education through employment and has intentionally decided to further their learning to earn a higher degree or complete training that will help them in their careers. Defining adulthood is difficult, though. The students I supervise asked me this summer when I finally felt like an adult. I had to take a genuine pause to ask myself what that meant. Did I feel like an adult one I had graduated with my Bachelor's degree? Or did I feel like an adult when I finally moved out of my parent's house to my own apartment two years later? Do I even feel like an adult now?

While I think adulthood is partially a state of mind, I think traditional components of adulthood include someone who has completed K-12 education, is working, is "adulting" by being responsible for their own bills, rent, mortgage, etc. It is mainly defined by self-sufficiency.

One thing that often distinguishes adult learners is that they choose to be in the classroom. They aren't expected to be there by their parents. It is their choice. They often have many other responsibilities besides school as well, which is important to take into consideration. Many adult learners have careers and families to tend to while also going to school. They are also coming into the classroom with much more professional experience than students who have had very little experience in the work force. It gives them a different perspective on their coursework and the concepts they are learning.

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There are many excellent descriptions of adulthood here, but I agree with Kim especially in regards to life experience and independence (having the bills paid on time, etc.). However, I do not think that is the only defining factor of an adult because there are those who are pushed into an independent lifestyle too young, and also those who are technically adults by age, but who have not yet experienced the responsibilities of adulthood. I also agree with Andrew's observation about the choice that adults make to pursue education. In fact, that is the reason why I have always preferred teaching adults to teaching in a K-12 setting; adults want to be there. They want to learn. They aren't obligated to take the course.

However, I have found out that young adult learners do not always want to be there and are sometimes only taking English classes to satisfy their parents. Others, while self-motivated, are too overwhelmed with their family responsibilities to really commit themselves to getting as much out of the class as possible. While I have been a little disillusioned in that regard, I would still prefer to teach adults because they have the maturity and life experience to appreciate and apply what they are learning.

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While I agree with many others that one component of adult learning is that learning has been taken into one's own hands and there is more individual responsibility for the learning, I also think another component that hasn't been mentioned is that oftentimes adult learning is more specialized or directed. In many settings, adult learners have focused in on one topic or topic area to learn more about. They've taken their interests and experiences and narrowed them to choose something they're interested in delving more into, which perhaps makes them more motivated.

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An adult learner is anyone who is no longer in k-12 schooling, which for me also includes those who are under 18 but have been adults and are no longer in age appropriate education. Some "children" are acting as adults and have taken their education into their own hands, a very adult decision.
Adult learners may have to learn due requirements put on them, or for their own edification. However I believe most adult learners understand the learning piece is their responsibility.

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Kate Zeichner                 I consider an adult learner anyone who is learning a new skill / thought area, or improving a known skill / thought area, in a space that falls outside of traditional K-12 education. Edith mentioned that when she begins a swim lesson, she asks her participants why they want to learn to swim - I believe this is key to adult learning - the idea that the learner WANTS to be there and has a desire for learning. While many participants in traditional K-12 education also want to be there, the arena is somewhat obligatory and traditional - for an adult learner, it is entirely their own choice (in nearly all cases - there are adult learners who are in various remediation programs, etc, for which this thought may not apply well). The idea of what defines adulthood is a very interesting one... rather than basing this definition on age or another objective factor, I believe true adulthood lies in ones ability to make choices and take responsibility for oneself in a truly independent fashion.

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Kate Zeichner                 I consider an adult learner anyone who is learning a new skill / thought area, or improving a known skill / thought area, in a space that falls outside of traditional K-12 education. Edith mentioned that when she begins a swim lesson, she asks her participants why they want to learn to swim - I believe this is key to adult learning - the idea that the learner WANTS to be there and has a desire for learning. While many participants in traditional K-12 education also want to be there, the arena is somewhat obligatory and traditional - for an adult learner, it is entirely their own choice (in nearly all cases - there are adult learners who are in various remediation programs, etc, for which this thought may not apply well). The idea of what defines adulthood is a very interesting one... rather than basing this definition on age or another objective factor, I believe true adulthood lies in ones ability to make choices and take responsibility for oneself in a truly independent fashion.

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I agree with Lizzie Young when she said:

Adult learning is self-directed, self-motivated, and typically not mandated. They consider themselves responsible and hold themselves accountable for their own education from this point forward, as this is information they are seeking, and that they consider useful and relevant.

I teach adults how to swim. When I begin the lesson, I ask why they want to learn to swim. I need to know so I can serve them better and meet their objectives. There are two answers, for fitness or to overcome a fear of water. For many adult learners coming to me for lessons both are important.

Adult learning is very different from one individual to another. Meeting the expectations of the adults is so important. How do we meet these expectations so we feel we learned or improve our lives. The cost of time and resources are balanced by how the learning will improve their lives.

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Andrew, I like how you touched on the fact that an adult learner is not necessarily someone who is learning in a formal capacity like school or within a classroom, it can be informal learning as well. I agree with what you stated. How many times have we learned something in a classroom or through reading to then realize that you didn't fully understand the topic or was able to understand the material on a deeper level once applying said knowledge?

When I think about what makes an adult learner distinct from other learners, the main component that comes to mind is that adults have real world experience that they are able to draw from in order to connect their learning to their own life. Which could be argued is a deeper level of learning.

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I would consider an adult learner anyone who has surpassed 18 years of age (voting age) as a societal standard. Andrea pointed to the traditional K-12 range and I would tend to agree with this as a measuring stick. Adulthood, in our context, is a time where, like Dana alluded to, there is a cognitive difference in learning. To me then, adulthood changes academically to be after 21 or 22 (your typical post-graduate ages from college) or after 25, (what is supposed to be the age where people are capable of better decision making I believe). In response to what makes an adult learner distinct, Louise makes a great point about intent. An adult learner should apply to someone who is seeking to learn. Anyone in this class should be considered an adult learner as we all have a similar goal of attaining some sort of lesson or gaining knowledge from our time in the class.

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I agree with Andrea that an adult learner isn't restricted to educational status. I think that adult learners are cognitively inclined individuals who are fully developed. I think that a majority of adult learners, as others have pointed out, can begin with people who return/start school beyond 12th grade. I also think that this definition extends to adults not in the learning community. I think that adulthood can be defined as a period of time where you have matured completely mentally and cognitively. I think the thing that makes an adult learner distinct from other learners are that the majority of them have a high knowledge base with high functioning cognitive abilities so they are capable of learning in higher capacities and more advanced learners

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An adult learner is someone who is gaining knowledge through different means than what has been used in the traditional K-12 style of teaching. It's not limited to being in school. I think professionals should be adult learners to further their knowledge about their industry.

I looked up the definition adulthood and found a psychology definition fitting. Adulthood is a period of optimum mental functioning when the individual's intellectual, emotional, and social capabilities are at their peak.  I don't truly believe that there it's age specified of when people reach adulthood despite the legality behind turning 18 or 21.

This is what makes adult learners distinct. They are more developed mentally but also emotionally and have a broader perspective.

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I think an adult learner is any individual of "adult age" who is continuing to learn.  This could be in the formal sense, such as a second degree or graduate degree, or the informal sense, such as learning a new job, changing career, or what it takes to be a parent.

It seems that the definition of adult may have changed over time as career paths changed.  In the past, an 18 year-old was an adult following high school, gaining employment and living on their own.  Now, many students continue to college with at least some support from their parents.  Even after graduation, some may live with their parents until gaining employment and starting their careers.

I thought Andrew made a good point in saying that adult learning is often more voluntary than younger learners in the K-12 education system. College and post-graduate education is a personal choice, so those that pursue these endeavors are driven to better themselves and further their education. They also have the benefit of years of life and work experiences that add to their knowledge base.

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I agree with Kim's, Andrew's and Lizzie's definition of Adult Learners being someone who returns to school after having experienced 'life' in some way and I think that most people would think of that 'type of person' if they hear that phrase. However, I also think that this definition is too narrow as we are all learners throughout our lives - we don't stop learning just because we have left formal school as we learn in our workplaces, in pre-natal or post-natal baby classes or at a new leisure activity.

Technically speaking, an adult is anyone over the age of 18 and who has left high school but that doesn't mean that maturity has been reached. A mature adult would be someone who is responsible, accountable and committed - to a job and/or their family. Whilst a broader definition of adult learners would certainly include all adults, learning styles, motivation and commitment to learning would look very different for each group.

So, for me, an adult learner is someone who is seeking to learn but what makes a a mature adult learner special is the fact that they perhaps know what they want out of it, certainly are more time-conscious in some way and that they are self-driven (as Lizzie states too).

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(Continuing from previous thought before the laptop battery died! :O) Adult learning is self-directed, self-motivated, and typically not mandated. They consider themselves responsible and hold themselves accountable for their own education from this point forward, as this is information they are seeking, and that they consider useful and relevant.

Adult learners tend to have knowledge to put forth based on their own lived experiences, and the faculty of adult learners typically call upon their students to share that knowledge with each other by utilizing active group learning techniques rather than simple lectures.

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For me an adult learner is that person who is returning to school after having experienced some degree of "adult" life - graduated from high school, and have either engaged in a career, family, or both. They contain knowledge of a lived experience. Their coming back to school is based on a need for further information in order to progress in their career or begin something new. Regardless, their it is self-directed, self-motivated, and not mandated by

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I think the dictionary definition that Kim M. provided is a fine way to define adulthood. However, I feel like it almost creates a seemingly artificial distinction with respect to learning.

I think my initial response to who are adult learners is to think about people going "back to school" after years of living life. But then I think of something like a job training program or military training, in which young adults learn important work skills. That seems like adult learning, but the only think that separates those kind of learners from high school kids is an arbitrary line in the sand (graduating high school? turning 18?). I don't think a training program for 18-19 year old people is particularly different from one for 25-30 year old people. Or maybe it is. But when I'm thinking about it that way, it seems weird to distinguish learning based on an arbitrary age.

Maybe it is worth distinguishing between voluntary and involuntary learning. Most "adult learning" is voluntary, whether it be because somebody wants a job, wants to finish a degree, or whatever. Kids in secondary school don't have that choice; they're legally obligated to go to school. They are made to go. Maybe that's an important difference.

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To me, an adult learner is someone who has experienced life. This means they could have had several careers, kids, a house, and other responsibilities. Adulthood is defined as reaching maturity (Collins English Dictionary, 2012). As a society, being mature can almost translate into being responsible. An adult probably has their bills paid on time, they probably have a job where they have some accountability, and they probably raised another human being. An adult has responsibilities that are different from a child and a teenager, and their lives can be busy and stressful.

An adult learner is distinct from other learners because they have so much life experience. They might be going into a subject, and it is possible, that they know more than the instructor. Adults are more selective about what they spend their time because they don’t have enough hours in the day. Anything that requires an adult learner’s focus needs to be relevant and useful; otherwise, it will be deemed frivolous. Adult learners will also be more engaged with their courses, because they are attending them voluntarily. These adults have a focus, and they have selected to go back to school to achieve their goals.

References:

adulthood. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved September 21, 2017 from Dictionary.com website http://www.dictionary.com/browse/adulthood