Adult Learners
I have the advantage to work with a group of recently high school graduates and working adults. And this has really helped me because I have experienced just about everything mention in this course .
I agree with alot of the answers pertaining to this discussion. However I have encountered several difficult or demotivated adult learners in my classroom. It seems that they have very little self-efficacy and lack self-esteem. SOme feel too old, or that it has been too long since they were in a classroom, and most importantly alot are intimidate and novice when it comes to todays highly technological advancements.
I have encountered several adults whom do not even have an email address!! This becomes a limitation in the classroom because they are either resistance to change their ways or become overwhelmed with the amount of their studies that pertains to computer use.
I have found that the experience base of adult learners, makes for a very interesting class, as they can share and verbalise some interesting experiences to the rest of the class. This helps to keep most students interested, focussed and motivated.
I completely agree with you. My adult students tend to me more organized, are rarley absent without prior notification and have every assignment completed on time. My class involves lab work that sometimes deal with real life interactions. I find the adult students feel more comfortable in this new interaction where my younger students tend to be very timid and/or fearful. The confidence of the adult students tends to display leadership for the younger student's to follow.
In a class of 30 I will have on average 2-5 students that are over the age of 30. Have had some well into their 50's as well. I have never had an issue with their learning, the adult learners obviously are more mature and motivated to learn. I will usually try and have them become motivators to the other students and tend to hold them to higher standards. Has anyone ever had a difficult adult student? With the younger students I have had the sense that the parents give them the ultimatum of going to school or something else. I will be blown away when an Adult learner tells me that my significant other made me come to school!
Niurka,
This has been my experience as well. They are very focused and goal driven in their learning. They see the value of what they are learning in terms of their career development.
Gary
Adult Learners have more motivation to learn, also they are more able to share with peers in classroom about their personal experiences.
I found that Adult learners have more motivation to learn and more able to share with peers about their profesiona experiences.
