In this book, Mark Tennant and Philip Pogson draw on the field of developmental psychology to provide new insights into the critical connections between experience and learning in all areas of adult education and training. Integrating findings from both adult developmental psychology and adult teaching and learning, the authors examine how experience generates developmental change. They look at how the relationship between the self and others changes across the life span and in turn affects the teacher-learner relationship. And they describe the processes that promote separateness, independence, interdependence, and autonomy in adult learners.

Relationships between development and learning in adulthood -- Intellectual and cognitive development during the adult years -- Practical intelligence and the development of expertise -- Theories of the life course -- The life course as a social construct -- Promoting autonomy and self-direction -- Adult education and the reconstruction of experience -- Establishing an "adult" teacher-learner relationship -- Teaching for life-span development.