Adult Learner's dilemma
It is true that the adult learner brings to class a wealth of experiences and ethics that sets an example for the young learners but the adult learner also has the most personal responsibility and commitment to family, employer, and in some cases, his own business. When situations arise that he needs to address these responsibilities, school becomes second priority; success in school may be threatened by absences, lack of time to finish assignments on due date, missed lessons, and other factors. In some cases, despite support and accomodations employed by the teacher, the adult learner gets overwhelmed and discouraged.
Teresita,
I agree that the adult learner often times has outside variables that impact them getting a degree. I believe online classes, 1 night a week courses or competency based course is a good option for these students.
Teresita -
I encourage students to try to budget their time. Having been a student, holding down a job, and running two households, I know that with some practice, you find time. I also have found that once an obligation of a course is completed, I suddenly have free time on my hands. Sharing that information with students helps them to buy on to the concept that if school can't come first, it should still be a high priority!
Tina
this is a often occurance for those with families and who are working a full time job, many of them fallbehind and cannot see a way out. I for example have had to stay up all night to get assignments in on time for a college course adn it makes for a long day teaching you class when you have been up all night studing for exams.
I also encourage my adult students to move foward and bring their life experiences to the table. The younger students appreciate the knowledge the adult student can bring. I often see my younger students gravitate to the adult student as they want them to succeed. I feel it is a win win situation for both.
Adult learners come to the classroom with a plethora of experiences but they also come with a myriad of issues. I realized that they hunger for encouragement and for their instructor to be a leader and a mentor for them. The istructor is called to a higher level of decorum and leadership. We must have something besides the content of the course to impart. We must be there to impact their lives positively. Many of the students I teach are broken one way or the other. They look to us to encourage them.
Adult learners are a unique breed. They often bring basic skills in critical thinking and problem solving to the classrom learned from personal experiences in the workplace. Many are gainfully employed and need the Bachelors or Masters degree to meet promotion requirements.
Life gets in the way sometimes and students need assistance to gain success.
Adult learners bring a lot more to the table when it comes to group discussions. Some are here at the school because of career changes and have valuable input !
I agree! I often find that adult learner/non-traditional students are some of the most idverse in learning methods and challenges. Some come with many experiences, whereas others do not. Additionally, I often find that I have to try differing methods depending on the non-traditional student, often still being more encouraging than with traditional students.
We have a good mix of younger and more mature adults in our school. We are in area that most of the mature adults are juggling family, job and school. The younger students mostly all have jobs too to assist them with tuition, gas, rent, and electronic devices bills.
The school has a strict attendance policy and if students waiver they get reminded right away to keep school the priority; obviously unless it is a true emergency. Planning ahead is key to keeping up with all of life, especially during these busy years of higher education.
Keeping their eye on the prize, in this case a degree or certification, is discussed often because this education they are working on now will aid them in getting a job or a better job that will ultimately be beneficial to their families. So, I usually do not use the words "making sacrifices". Instead I say "planning for the future takes commitment to their adult education".
