They are owners of experience, knowledge and skills gathered simply by living. They come with dispositions, a world view, a frame of reference of occupants of the real world. As a result, each person is a resource from which to contribute to the group's learning. Learning experiences are organized to use actual experience as content and action learning. Knowledge is a by-product of the process.
Textbooks contain answers.
Without important questions on which to hang those answers, the information can be sterile and academic. We believe that we write the textbook based on our need to learn and apply knowledge. Classes are conducted and learning experiences designed to produce examples, experiments and learnings that add to the body of knowledge contained in textbooks. The focus is on learning to lead from the position you have and not wait to get the position you aspire to before beginning to lead. Learning has been variously described as a change in behavior or the acquisition of useful programs.