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Malcolm Knowles popularised the term andragogy and identified six assumptions which related to adult learners, in contrast to child learners.

1. Self-concept: Adults progress more rapidly from dependence on others, or having learning controlled by others, to more independent self-directed learning.

2. Experience: Adults have more extensive life and work experiences and can contribute more widely to their and others learning process due to their prior experiences.

3. Readiness to learn: Adults have a greater desire to want to learn and develop, especially to improve career prospects, understanding more about the need to change and adapt to changes.

4. Orientation to learning: Adults are more focused on learning for a specific aim, for example an immediate work skill or knowledge requirement, rather than learning in a more general way.

5. Motivation to learn: Adults will have a more intrinsic desire to learn for themselves so as to satisfy their wants and wishes, in contrast to child learning which is more extrinsic (aiming to please external parties such as parents or teachers).

6. Need to know: Adults have a better understanding of the need to bridge a knowledge / skills gap and will question (to both themselves and others) why they need to know aspects of the learning.