Adult Students Learning from Younger Instructors
I am a new instructor. A challenge I face is some students that are a bit older than me tend to look down to me. In other words, I get looks like "How would you know. Your young enough to be my son". This usually happens when I make a suggestion in improving some hands-on skills. If I see they are doing something wrong or could be improved, I step in to help them without them asking for help. I feel they would rather struggle than to take instructions from someone younger then them.
Sammy,
This type of situation is a challenge, even for non-teachers who are put in a position of responsibility over someone else. You may want to try to help students maintain self-esteem by finding things they can show you how to do or even by politely asking if they would mind if you should them another way to do something.
The key is to remmber that at any age, they are still the students. You need to be polite but assertive in the same manner you will with students who a generation behind you in 20 years.
Jeffrey Schillinger
That is a challenge. I find that some older students feel that because math is easy for me, they could show me something that is easy for them, but hard for me. Almost resentful. I often try to allow any aged learner to do it "their own way". If it works, but takes longer, who cares. Because their brain came up with this way, it will always be their first go to. Of course, I can't resist, so I will show them how I do it, and point out any time savings or efficiency or accuracy that my way guarantees. If they still want to do it their way, I step aside and let them.
I liked that other reply about keeping their self esteem up. Ask them questions about their industry, their responsibilities, and remind them that their job sounds important and possibly difficult for others to master. They want to be reminded that they aren't idiots just because they didn't come up with the 'best' way on their own.
I have been a dental assisting instructor for the past two years. I would say that I have some students that are older than me, but the majority of my students are younger than me. Regardless of their ages, I treat all of my students with respect, fairness, and actively engage them with activities so they can interact with each other. Before starting the activities, I will do a demonstration of the procedure such as taking an alginate impression. Also, during and after the demonstration, I ask are there any questions. I will mention to them, if you have any questions, please call me to your station. Once they start their procedure(s), I monitor the students. If I see something that they are doing wrong, in a nice way, I wil go to their station. Then I will discuss what I see and tell or show them what to do. The students appreciate this approach better.
Fernanda,
Thank you for this post. I suggest that you develop a list of key questions that students should be asking and wander through the lab asking students these questions as opposed to simply waiting for student questions. Sometimes students are so lost that they do not even know what question to ask.
Jeffrey Schillinger
My advice for teaching to older students is to get to know a little about their background at the beginning of class, and then look to them for feedback based on their experience throughout the course. There is a very, very good chance that they have more knowledge than you on many subjects and could often even be as qualified as you are to teach the course. Embrace this extra knowledge you have sitting in your classroom and use it!
When working with an older student, I feel that the best way to help them with something in which they are struggling is to let them talk out their logic to you and then you can show them what they need to "tweak" based on whatever subject it is that you are teaching. Above all, the key word is respect, respect, respect. Whatever you do will work if they feel that they have your respect.
Pamela,
Great post! Thank you for sharing this great advice.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Pamela,
Aretha Franklin would agree with your position on respect. :)
Jeffrey Schillinger
I totally agree with taking time to get to know your students (young and old) in the classroom and their background if it is appropriate. Knowing them personally will help you understand where they are coming from, why they have developed attitudes (good or bad) and they will be more willing to open up in class or apporach you outside of class if they need help.
Debbie,
Thanks for this post. What are some of the specific activities you leverage to "get to know" your students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I know exactly how you feel, except I am a younger women. I have experienced this many time especially when I first started teaching. But how I combat that issue by presenting myself in a no nonsense professional way. I don’t allow students to question facts given about relevant subject material. If a specific student doesn’t understand or has a contradiction to the statement I made, I have them look it up on the internet or in the text provided and read it allowed so everyone can hear. This only needs to happen a couple times for student to realize you know what you are talking about
Katherine,
It seems unusual that you do not allow students to question facts. That being said, it is good that you require those who disagree to find evidence supporting their position. The intent should be to have students learn. Your response could be interpreted as making them work to prove the teacher knows more than they do. Was that your intention?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Don’t get me wrong I allow them to question the facts, I have no problem with a student respectfully raising their hand to ask a question regarding subject material. I simply ask them to find it in their book or on the power point to further investigate themselves so they have evidence(or lack thereof) supporting their question. Critical thinking and thinking before you speak are very important when in the health care field. If you go off without doing research or fully understanding what’s going on you could get someone hurt. In addition a lot of times they will not understand something I’m saying but then they read it in the text book and understand.
Additionally in healthcare we have to follow rules because they are based on facts. If those "facts" that the students question are in the book shouldn’t that be believed ? Or should they continue to go off “half-cocked†to question the instructor and whoever, whether it be surgeons, nurses or allied staff.
Personally I try from day one to get the students critically thinking and get them to take initiative for their learning because that is what they came to school for . It is not a “challenge the teacher thing†I just believe that you have to do your research .
Its worked so far, I have never had a complaint about my teaching style
Katherine,
Thanks for the response. I appreciate it.
Jeffrey Schillinger
"I feel they would rather struggle than to take instructions from someone younger then them."
Or is it that older students prefer the idea that they want to struggle through it until they master it??? That is how I tend to do things, i.e. "Let me play with it and figure it out...quit jumping in and interrupting me..."
Also what comes into play is "Instructor Credibility" If the students look at you and it is obvious you are struggling with the subject matter your self, i.e. just reading the book to them, then it's a shark-fest as they tear you up. I always, even when younger, go out of my way to establish my "bona-fide's", as in I didn't just read the book and am teaching you, I have done it, worked in it, and have established an expertise in it.
I struggled with this a lot more when I first started teaching at 24. I'm only 27 now, but the age shift between myself and my students has had an impact on the level of respect I get in the classroom. I find I lose confidence with certain lectures that I've struggled with in the past. Or if I accidentally make a mistake (contrary to popular thought, I am a human.), they lose confidence in my knowledge. I've had conversations with my bosses about this, and luckily, they have a lot of confidence in me and they understand that sometimes you don't say the right things. I'd recommend to anyone struggling with students not respecting your age and experiences just to try to stay confident. You and your bosses know exactly how qualified you are to be teaching the class or you wouldn't be there. There will always be a bad apple, try to focus on the good ones.
Megan,
Being well-prepared is the first step here. The second is to do all one can to project confidence.
Jeffrey Schillinger
