Adult learning
Adult students are really very motivated and they do understand their goal. But sometime I find adult students like to tell teachers what to do. For example they will start to talk their life experiences.
Hi Shobha,
Adult students have to be controlled just like any other student. You can't let them run the classroom or take over the classroom. As the instructor you must maintain control.
Patricia Scales
I agree I have had younger and older adult students in the same class and have found that the older students tend to overpower the class but with patience and information without insulting the older students bring all the students to the same level of respect and knowledge then they all work together and I maintain control of the class.
Hi James,
Any student will try to take over the class if you allow them to do so. Since some students are older, they feel they are privy to take the class over. The instructor has to put students back in their place and let students know that the instructor controls the classroom.
Patricia Scales
You are so right. When they are not understanding something they like to complain that you are not taching them right.
Hi Deborah,
Yes, students will complain. All complaints are really not the instructor's fault. The DOE really has to listen and observe carefully to determine if there is any validity to the student's complaint.
Patricia Scales
i have ahd the experience of encountering adult learners that like to share their knowledge with others. I enjoy it when the conversations are relevant and other students also gain from the adult learner experience. As an example I was teaching a Culinary Foundations II class to a group of Pastry students and we had an international student in the group wo had already completed a culinary degree and she enjoy showing to the group that she had previous knowlege of wwhat I was lecturing and demoing about but was completely new to the rest of the class. I found it was good to let her express herself without interrupting and it seems to me that made her feel welcomed in my class.
Hi Enrique,
What an awesome way to build a student's confidence as well. Most students like sharing their knowledge with others; this makes them feel good about themselves. Some students really do have great stories to share.
Patricia Scales
