Age Diversity
With the ranges of age in our classes, I find it a bit chalenging to reach all students needs right away. I would like imput on how to address this right away with out lossing their interest. With the older students it takes them longer to grasp things then with my younger students. Should I pair them up right away?
As an instructor in a clinical setting I have found that pairing up students with one younger to one older benefits both students as they interact with the population provided at this setting.
Older student of course bring a much richer diversity of experience, and I find that if I can identify what their "specialty" is, that skill set can be built upon to incorporate new info and concepts. For example, older students often have a much better business money sense, or customer service sense, or empathy for the person receiving the service. In my experience, all students are excited when they realize that something that they already know and are quite familiar with readily translates into the new career path.
I agree that groups are an effective way to disseminate the "age" problems, because those in high age rank being mixed with younger students start feeling that their life experience is helping the group to resolve the problems, especially of the personal nature.
Hi Latasha,
I like this approach as well. The tactile involvement helps the students to integrate the content into their working memories much better.
Gary
I have learned that showing them hands on material works better. Not only that but repeated myself over and over again so that it can stick in there head.
Hi Eleftherios,
Good points about what to consider when pairing students in work groups. This is why it is so important to know your students so you can create a supportive team environment for them as needed.
Gary
I think that, just like with ANY situation where we're making generalities about a group, it has to be done cautiously.
There's an advantage to pairing older and younger students together because they could compliment each other, sure.
But there's also something to be said about pairing students that are closer to each other age-wise as far as them having more in common.
Then of course there's their personality, learning-style on an individual level.
Lastly, in my experience this generalization is often reversed. Older students are often able to grasp things quicker because they can relate it to other things they've mastered. Younger students seem more distracted/scattered.
Hi Harold,
I am a big fan and user of groups as well. You strategy for student placement in the groups is a good one because they numbering system mixes up the students. My groups gel quickly and become very cohesive as they work on case studies and projects.
Gary
Breaking up students into groups is a great way to get all students engaged no matter what there age. In 3d development I have many group project orientated lessons. In the beginning of these lessons I break them up in groups just by counting off in fours. This forces students to interact with each other despite race gender or age and create a more dynamic and focused group.
Hi Dwayne,
I think this is a very good way to ease the students into working relationships with each other and you the instructor. Once they get settled in and feeling comfortable they are more ready to start working with and depending on each other.
Gary
That is a very interesting question. I found that informing the diverse (age and ethnicity)class about completing a group project at the beginning of class lets them know they will work together. However, I wait a week to let everyone feel comfortable in the classroom setting - me, my approach, the subject, and how I respond to them before I get them to choose their groups. This appears to work due to a stronger comfort and trust level created in the class.
Hi Jeannine,
I would create learning groups (3-4 students each) with a deliberate mix of ages and experiences in each group. Then have them do some fun activities right at the beginning of the course to get them talking and working together. This helps them get to know each other better while also breaking down some of the age and generational barriers. Then yo can move them onto the course content and concepts and they will start to work together much easier as a result of the ice breaker group work you did at the beginning of the course.
Gary
Age sometimes keeps students away
