Defining the Adult Learner

One of the most common questions we receive about the Tagged Tanakh (TT) is, “who is your target market?” Most of the audience that the TT is aimed at is pretty self-explanatory: educators, Jewish non-profit professionals, scholars, and rabbis. But who exactly are adult learners?

Beyond the obvious (i.e. learners who are adults), what makes a 35 year-old learner that much different than a student twenty years younger? Time constraints, sure, but also interest areas and learning style, and of course levels of comfort/engagement with technology.

Underage students have no choice but to study. Hopefully, young students have various motivations to do well, but often they are compelled by their parents and the law to attend classes. Adults, however, typically require a specific catalyst to inspire them to return to educational pursuits. Often adults will seek out learning experiences to help them deal with life-changing events, like marriage or divorce, losing a loved one or moving to a new place.

The way an adult learner approaches their studies is different from their younger counterparts. According to some educational theorists, adult learners prefer single concepts or theories, specifically in areas that focus on the application of a concept to a relevant problem or issue. Unlike younger learners, who may be taking survey courses merely to find out what’s out there, adult learners tend to have targeted interest areas they wish to explore.

Adult learners take a more active role in the learning process since the act in and of itself is elective and conforms to their own schedules and needs. Adult education is also a great way for busy professionals or retired folks to socialize with people beyond their mundane circles. Studies show that people enjoy learning when there is some degree of group interaction in the curriculum, as opposed to individual studies.

So with the Tagged Tanakh, we hope to offer adult learners an opportunity to interact with Tanakh and each other in meaningful ways. Whether you’re interested in a specific traditional commentary or what your next door neighbor has to say, the Tagged Tanakh will enable adult learners to access the Torah without the normal barriers to entry. You wont need a rabbi now to find passages related to environmentalism or bioethics. You can now study Torah L’shma (Torah study for its own sake) within the comfort of your home rather than in a secluded yeshiva. Adult learners are the seekers and curious minds of our community that are driven by their questions. We hope that our effort with the Tagged Tanakh satiates a portion of their hunger for knowledge.