Personally, I believe that the major motivating factor for adults to return to school is to improve themselves in the field they are already working in, maybe to learn a new skill or a better way to tackle an existing issue.
Heather,
Thanks for this post. It will probably be helpful if you make sure your students know you have gone through and have been where they are.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Adult learners are motivated to achieve. If they are parents, than they want to do it to give everything that they can to their families and children. If they are not parents, they still have the desire to achieve and make something of themselves. Adult learners are motivated by money, promotions, and successes. I was motivated to return to school to gain knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill my goals and dreams.
I know people(husband and wife,Mother and Daughter)going back to school to stay together or at the same level. Most of people do it ,searching for better job opportunities.
Thanks for sharing this, David. What are some specific and intentional things you do that help you get to know your adult students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I find that it is so important to get to know the adult learner on a one-to-one basis to genuinely care about their desire to increase their knowledge and skills. Behind every adult student is a personal sacrifice to be in the course, and feel that this new learning is worth their time invested.
It has to make a difference for them to continue.
Shannon,
Thank you for this post. How does knowing why students are returning to school impact how you teach?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I believe many adults return to school to advance in their careers or to keep up with the changing world.
David,
What are some of the specific things you do in your classes to learn the motivations of each student and to leverage those motivations to inspire your students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Job promotion, new learning, personal interests, hobbies
I try and anticipate the factors that may come forth, am always ready to discuss patient issues through mock presentations, integrate outcomes (both student and patient) into the delivery process, and am willing to adjust the schedule of the presentation as needed or desired. It has also been my habit to integrate other programs into delivery for assessment, integration and differing structures
Paula,
What do you do to leverage these needs in your instruction?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Monetary stability for self and family, to act as a role model, satisfaction in career selection
Arlene,
Well-written. We used to say that a god lesson gave students a chance to hear it, see it and feel it.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Students with multiple learning styles have an advantage with learning. It is the student with a specific learning style that needs the attention. Often an interactive delivery that covers visual, auditory and kinesthetic approaches is beneficial for all learners. Videos work well.
Arlene,
Thank you for this well-written post. What guidance would you give to new teachers so that they will plan and deliver lessons that appeal to learners with multiple styles?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I would like to say it depends on the reason adults return to school; however, in my experience it has more factors to consider than socioeconomics or transitioning from one career to another, etc. Those seem to be the background conversation. Engagement is critically important. Identifying the learning styles of the learners in the class can be time consuming. A plan to present subject matter and receive assignments when geared to address the multiple learning styles of learners would be a good plan, and then all basses are covered. Personally, I like Gagne's approach who created a nine-step process called the "events of instruction". It correlates to and addresses the conditions of learning. This is particularly effective with online learning to facilitate learning. It focuses on the outcomes.
Arlene,
Thank you for this post. How do you leverage these factors when you plan and facilitate instruction?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Starting a new career path after retirement is challenging. Those that pick a 2nd career after retirement are usually highly motivated in my experience. Arlene
What are some of the motivating factors for adults to return to school?
My experience teaching is that students either want to expand their knowledge and move to the next level in their career or there are those who want to develop a new career path. Arlene
