Making a Connection
Adults are goal-oriented, Adults are practical, Adults are and self-directed, adults need to be shown respect and instructors must acknowledge the wealth of experiences that adult participants bring to the classroom. These adults should be treated as equals in experience and knowledge and allowed to voice their opinions freely in class.The best way to motivate adult learners is simply to enhance their reasons for enrolling and decrease the barriers, is to always encourage them to be self achievers and a constant reminder, that there is no shame in failure, the only failure is to stop trying to reach your goals.
Good post. But I think a lot of this applied to the traditional student as well.
Hi Kelly,
This is a good point. In your field they need to have a set of basic skills and then use those skills to analyze and problem solve. The more experience they have in these two areas the greater the potential they have a successful career. Keep working on that aspect of career development with them even if at times they don't don't seem to see the importance of it.
Gary
I find that it is often the younger students who are upset if they do not have all A grades. I remind them that in our particular field, that memorization to get an A is not as important as being able to apply knowledge in dangerous situations as well as knowing WHERE to find necessary information when applicable. Using examples of memorizing a crimes code book being not only an unreasonable expectation, precendent setting cases, etc, they often begin to grasp the concept of actually learning and applying, rather than memorizing and only having rote recall.
Hi Denise,
This is a good point. We need to remember that these adult learners have and are taking risks to create a future for themselves. So the more support we can give them the greater their comfort level is going to be.
Gary
I agree, adult learners are very brave! I try to remind them constantly that they are not their grades. Tutoring is always available to help adult learners get back into the swing of studying.
Hi Debra,
This is a constant challenge in working returning adults. You are right about employers not caring about the final GPA. They want dedicated, well prepared workers that can do the job.
Gary
I sometimes have students (especially older) who become frustrated when they do not get an "A". I have to remind them not to be so hard on themselves and that although it helps to have a high GPA, many employers are not really concerned with this as long as you have made it through the course with good attendance, punctuality, respect and a concern for others. It helps to bring them back to the real world and decrease their stress in relation to coming back to school.
I try to express to my adult learners what guts they have to come back to school. I instill that they are driven and gutsy people.
I would like to encourage my studednts to get more involved in tutoring if they need more help with a course.
We offer tutoring and one on one help. Everyone would lkie to make an "A" but we encourage setting and achieving goals. Grouping adults with younger students allows the adults to share their life experiences and contribute to the group this valuable lessong.
