Keep Adult Learners Engaged
Instructors should be reminded that sharing the students' background experiences, to the class topic, will enable them to become more engaged in class topics.
Stanley,
Experience has a way of educating a person. Your students are showing that through the experiences they relate in class. Good information for the younger students to hear and digest.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that my older students (28-45) are more grounded and focused. When they talk discuss their trials and hardships that they have overcome in life and in learning, it encourages the younger students.
Jennifer,
I agree and think this is a good practice to follow. By doing so you are showing your students you respect them for their life experiences and what they can contribute to the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also find that other students enjoy hearing of life experiences from someone other than myself. Utilizing student's experiences gives everyone in my class a sense of ownership over their education.
It not only helps to engage that student but often it can help engage another student that although may not have had that exact experience may be able to relate to it. It also provides the rest of the class another example of how to recall that info provided during lecture.
Freddie,
Good point and one instructors need to remember each time they start a new class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
