non-traditional student needs
I come into contact with a very diverse student body and sometimes the gap in ages seems to be a stumbling block to unity in class discussions. How can the content of discussion be narrowed to include different age groups?
I THINK IT S A TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE TO HAVE STUDENTS OF A DIVERSIFY GROUP AGE AS AN INSTRUCTOR I ASK THEM TO SHARE SOME OF THEIR OWN EXPERINCES IN THE REAL WORLD WITH THOSE WHO HAVE JUST BEGAN THEIR CAREERS AND IT MAKES FOR A MORE FLAVORFUL CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.
Hi Darren,
You are right on with your use of older students as resources. They have life experiences that can be shared to reinforce the content and skills you are offering. Keep up the good work.
Gary
the older student has life experience that can be very helpful to the younger students. Get the older students involved in conversations so they can explain what they have learned, and the hardships they have encountered. they will realize they have something to offer.
Hi Robert,
The bringing together of diverse groups is always a challenge but one way that has proven to be very successful is to put the students into small groups to work on a case study or problem solve. Balance the members between the different age groups so they can use the life experiences each age group brings to the setting. You will find that respect develops very quickly between the different age segments as they are working together to solve a common problem. It you make it a competition between the groups it works even better because they forget within the group the differences and concentrate on trying to beat the other groups.
Gary
