Laurna,
How do you determine individual motivators and leverage them to reach students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Adult learners return to school for a number of resons, but career advancement seems to be a key motivator for many.
Learning new skills and gaining new credentials to open up new opportunities can motivate adult learners to take on the added challenges of furthering their education.
Lisa,
What are some things you think would help to provide more accurate compensation information to students s they are not taken back by reality at the end of their program?
Jeffrey Schillinger
In my experience as a Career Services Advisor, students are often motivated to a) start new careers for professional growth/pursuing passion, or b) make more money in a new job/new career. Unfortunately, it has also been my experience that students do have some misconceptions about the amount of money they can reasonably make in the field, even with a new degree. They often already have a job that affords them a certain level of income, and are unable or unwilling to start at the bottom to gain proper experience in a new field.
Setting that aside, I am leading a Career Development Class for adult learners at my university, and look forward to incorporating some of these theories/strategies into the class.
Gregg,
What are some specific things you do to reach and motivate students who have lost their job?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I agree, tis a shame that the world does not see the value and talents that vets have to offer. To me it does not make sense.
There can be many reasons for adults learners to return to school; loss of a job or career change, frustration with your current occupation, reaching a stage in your life that you wish to make the world a better place and give back.
Anthony,
How do you leverage these students' motivations to keep them on track when the reality of the degree of difficulty kicks in?
Jeffrey Schillinger
The largest percentage of my adult students are looking for the dream carrier that they always wanted. They are of varying age groups because they are making the steps to get stared for different reasons. Mostly because something happened in there life that triggered or motivated them to start or change.
Jennifer,
We have found that provide organizers to students in the form of checklists with due dates helps to keep them from procrastinating as much as they may have done othewise. By establishing short, clear and reasonable deadlines for the activities that prepare them for the finas, teachers are helping them manage time without making time management itself the focus of discussions.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Hi Christie,
I struggle with this topic with my students. I teach in an associate degree program that is primarily done at night. Many of my students do not prioritize their time well and it leads to utter chaos for them, especially at the end of the term when they're trying to pass a class or final. How have you dealt with this without being patronizing or offending them? I tried to do a little time mangagement in one of my classes and they were resistant because it didn't match the topic of the class. I'm interested in your ideas!
Thank you,
Jennifer Campbell
James,
Thank you for this post. How do you identify each student's motivations and, more importantly, how do you use this information to help individual students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Adult learners could have several factors motivating them to return to school. Advancement, increase in salary, transferring to another position in the company
Christie,
Thank you for this post. What are some specific ways you and your peers help students develop better time management skills?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I have found that one of the biggest challenges for adult learners who have been out in the work force and are going back to school, or are starting school for the first time, is that they do not know how to manage their time. They have a hard time balancing school, work, family, etc. They need to be taught how to organize their day so that they can set enough time aside to study and succeed in the program.
Vaughn,
Which student motivations, as you described above, position students to be the biggest challenge for you?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Adults can have many reasons to be motivated. A few of them can be; future status, promotion, self worth and money. All these can satisfy their need for accomplishment in a work setting.
I've even had some students that came back to school just because they've always wanted a degree. Had a few retired adults that had the time and wanted to learn a subject better.
I tell students that I can do everything in my power to help you...but only you can be motivated to complete your classes and get your degree.
Adults can have many reasons to be motivated. A few of them can be; future status, promotion, self worth and money. All these can satisfy their need for accomplishment in a work setting.
I've even had some students that came back to school just because they've always wanted a degree. Had a few retired adults that had the time and wanted to learn a subject better.
I tell students that I can do everything in my power to help you...but only you can be motivated to complete your classes and get your degree.
Thank you for this post, David. Your experiences should help you relate to your students as a "similar other" for those who are required to go back to school. How can you lean upon your experiences to relate to students who return for other reasons?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Adults returning to school have many motivating factors. Improving their earning potential, job requirements, or changing careers are probably the 3 biggest reasons. I personally went back to school to earn a higher degree because my job description required it.
