Adult Learners
It is important to take into consideration the fact that adult learners have many more responsabilities than a typical younger counterpart.
Tonya,
Adult learners generally have specific goals for themselves and they want to see how the courses they are taking and the content they are learning contributes to their career development. They are forward focused and want to see progress in all that they do.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It most definitely is ! Adult learners usually have jobs and families and other responsibilities plus attending school to further their education. I think these considerations also makes the adult learner more determined at completing courses.
Janice,
Yes, they do. They are there with a stated purpose and as a result they are focused on their success. The more we can provide support for them the more they can concentrate on their success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Adult learners do have more responsibilities but due to their age many have learned to juggle whatever is put before them. They have impeccable time mangement and really do want to succeed.
Donna,
Understanding the challenges that older students have in their lives outside of school is important because as you say they can impact their success in school. So by providing support as needed to these students their success rate will increase as will their confidence.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
adult learner do have more on their plate then the typical college age student. Most college students live at home where mom and dad are still providing but with the adult learner, they are having to balance support and fulfilling their dream and making more of their career choice. Adult learners I feel are more apt to fail due to the stress and obligations they have and the balancing act they are having to perform.
Leslie,
This is always a challenge for students that have many outside responsibilities and challenges. The more support we can provide and encouragement shared the more we will be able to help them to make the choice of staying in school.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Many older students have added responsibilities such as children, parents, work etc. I encourage students to keep focused on their goal of completing their studies for a better future.
Grant,
Good question and one that has not totally been answered as of yet. I just completed a national study in an attempt to identify the elements of successful support systems for men. I don't have the analysis of the data completed as of yet. I will be glad to share this information when the study is completed. I do know there has to be a connection between the person and the individual providing support. The student needs to see value related to the connection or he will not carry the relationship any further. This is the reason that many of our male students do not complete even the first phase of their college experience.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I did notice that the women have a much better support network than the men. The excetions were the vets. How do we get the men to share?
Misty,
Many times personal situations serve as powerful motivators for students, just as they did for you. You wanted to expand your career options to help your family in the future. Also, to know more about students can really help with providing support when personal challenges come up that might move them out of school.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is so true! Many times the adult learners are parents or single parents. I was in this situation. It made me more motivated and focused to complete my degree, knowing I had a family to support.
I'd agree with that- school is something they fit into their already busy lives, and dedicate a great amount of effort to it. On the downside, I've had a few older students become frustrated when they're taught 'differently than they've always done it', and resist learning the new way.
Terie,
Thank you for these remarks about working with older students. My experience with these individuals mirrors yours in that they are dedicated, focused and are willing to work hard to be successful. They often become the role models for my younger students that come to class with an entitlement attitude. Their experiences help to shape and inform the younger students in terms of them having to realize that they have to earn their way not have it gifted to them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Anna-Marie,
Support for these learners is so important because of the point you make. They are being pressed by life challenges and by knowing they have their instructor's support they get encouraged and stay in school. They respect their instructor as being their learning leader.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I've been fascinated to find that the older of my students with more on their plates seem to work their classes in to their lives much more smoothly, like just another job. They're more relaxed and practical; they see the end goal. The younger (and sometimes more spoiled?) students seem to make a big deal out of assignments, complain more, and really enjoy the process less. I also think because of their many responsibilities, adult learners appreciate more direct, practical teaching and goal-oriented assignments. On a side note, I find that the life experiences and challenges that my older students have helps me teach them more effectively; I can draw so many illustrations and examples from their lives which they understand, which helps to explain much of the course content more easily.
I agree, and I've found that with those added responsibilities come unique situations that may interfere with course completion. Here is where instructors must be willing to work with students who communicate a need and are fortcoming about their circumstances.
Adult learners have little to no outside support so its generally upto the instructor and the class to provide that structure and support the average adult learner needs.
Alina,
This is true and so we need to provide support to them as they work through the course. Understanding how you can support them when life challenges are pushing them to drop out is a way to keep them in course and moving closer to their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
