Discipline and Age
I also find that age contributes a lot to the way a student views discipline. My younger students still don't realize the value of discipline because they have yet to discover how it affects lives in a positive manner as opposed to the older students who already know.
I teach all ages from 17 to 55 plus. I see limited discipline from my younger students, they want the answer now without any thought to how it came to be. Many of the more mature in age students show struggles with discipline dont really apply themselves in their studies. I have a thought this is due to never being challenged when younger to develop discipline.
Ryan,
This has been my experience as well. This is why it takes a creative approach to appeal to all of the learning needs of students as they develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have a similar mix of students and have made the same observations. Slightly older students with military experience are generally much more focused and have a far greater ability think things through, using critical thinking and logic, to solve a problem or apply a skill to complete a task. Younger students often have an exceedingly difficult time "thinking outside of the box" or reasoning their way through tasks or topics. Extra effort (and lots of it) is usually required to guide these younger students toward being able to solve problems and gain competency.
Although in theory this is usually the case, I have had students in the classroom that are older that have lacked discipline. I more contribute the motive or reason for pursuing an education than the age of the student.
Paula,
My students are for the most part in the 20-24 range and they seem to be lacking in the self discipline area of their development. I have to convince them that if they work hard and develop critical thinking skills their value in the workplace goes up. I bring in graduates that share with the current students their stories and this really helps the students to see why they need to put forth the effort needed to be problem solvers in their career area.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It seems some families do not provide the framework for discipline. (Not sure this is age related.) Maybe it is better to learn from an instructor. After an initial "phase," I find younger students creative and not so concerned about the RIGHT way to achieve their goal. All of my students are over 18.
Kate,
Thank you for these comments in relation to brain development. Having an understanding of how the brain matures and then being able to work with a wide range of different aged students you can use the life experiences and knowledge to expand the learning opportunities for everyone in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Well, the brain doesn't fully develop until age 25 or so, and the last part to mature, prefrontal cortex, is the part that inhibits impulses and plans and organizse behavior to reach a goal.
Additionally, the brain's reward system becomes highly active right around the time of puberty and then gradually goes back to an adult level, which it reaches around age 25 and that makes adolescents and young adults more interested in entering uncertain situations to seek out and try to find whether there might be a possibility of gaining something from those situations.
So, yes, in many ways, young adults are physiologically incapable of the kind of discipline older adults are.
Scott,
Right you are. This is assumption that many instructors make which is not correct so they need to identify what their older students really know and are able to work through and then assign the critical thinking activities.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I Also deal with students of all ages and you can't judge a book by its cover. older students do not always have good critical thinking skills.
Kenneth,
I have had this same experience with my students over the years. Tough at times to get each student to slow down and think through the options to come up with a solution. Quality does take time and that is a point that is challenging for many, especially younger students to understand.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am a Pastry Instructor, and I have all ages and backgrounds. It is always a challenge to balance the work ethic of those that are older and more disciplined, and those that are looking for the instant gratification of the class without doing the work to get there.
I feel age develops discipline through time. My students with a military background don't always have good critical path analysis skills but may have been taught discipline by way of their training. Following rules is a way of life in that scenario. I have some older students who study the situation before they act and then choose the most logical steps.
Jaye,
Spoken like a true sage because it is true. Judgement comes from making a lot of decisions some of which may not be the right ones but even the wrong ones teaches. Over the years then the right decisions are made more often due to the experience of knowing how to select the right decisions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I do find that to be true. I think youth do not understand wisdom verses knowledge. A bright student who receives good grades will no doubt be knowledgable. However, only trial and error, and failure and growth can teach judgement. Judgment teaches wisdom.
Tasia,
I sense this same movement toward entitlement as well. This makes me sad and well as it challenges me to develop activities and content that will help them to see the value of earning their grade and acquiring the needed content. This is what being in school should be about. They also need to develop self discipline which will lead them to career success since they understand what effort is needed to be able to do the work that is required.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also work with students at a variety of age levels. I used to believe that the older students would have a better sense of discipline and dedication to their education. The more time I spend with the different groups, the less I believe that assumption.
For the most part, older students are more discipline but I notice a general trend toward entitlement from students of all age levels.
Janet,
Your observations have been my experiences as well. The variety of abilities in terms of critical thinking is all over the place base upon previous life experiences, work history, etc.. I try to have some activities early in the class that I use to determine in my mind where my students are in their reflective thinking process so I can encourage and support them in relation to their specific needs.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I deal with different ages of students. Sometimes I tend to judge the older students. I assume they would be better disciplined and have better critical thinking skills. Since I have been an instructor for 7 years, I tend not to make that assumption. I get let down if I do. With students that have been in the military, I do notice more discipline in certain areas but not always with critical thinking.
