adult learners & young learners
Over the years I have observed many reactions & behavior styles, especially when the two groups come together. Some assume “parent’s figure” and others “kid’s figure” but sometimes it is surprising to see the role being reversed…
I also like to have a mix of ages in my classroom, especially in an upper level course. I find the age range helps contribute to discussion and all students share their experiences and ask more questions.
I agree with you. Especially in my math class this quarter I see a lot of older students intimidated by the younger students fresh out of high school. I hear alot of "how come the math comes so easily to the ones that just graduated and not myself?" I kindly remind the student that if you don't use your mathematics you loose your mathematics so if it has been 13 years since you have had a math class you are going to have to work harder to get your math skills back.
Being an Instructor at a technical institute. I feel the mixing with more mature students and the less mature is beneficial to both age groups to bridge the gap of learning.
By having students of different ages pair up in lab it allows each to gain knowledge from the other, and bridges the “age gap”. More often the younger can learn from the older students.
Hi Jeff,
Excellent point about the age situation in relation to online instruction. Your observation makes good sense in relation to how students help each other and feel comfortable in the course.
Gary
There are interesting differences if you teach a course entirely online as I do. Age is of course not directly observable, but there is instead an interesting relationship between students who have previous experience related to the course material and those who don't. In my observation, students with experience tend to volunteer to mentor students without experience.
Since these relationships form in an environment where age is unknown, it makes me think that we should be thinking in terms of experienced/inexperienced instead of older/younger. Perhaps that's why you see a role reversal sometimes.
I have found that at first, some olders students are intimidated by the younger and vice versa.
Hi Adam,
This is true in my classes as well. I have found that when the younger students help the older students a higher level of respect is developed since the younger students have a skill to share and older students have life experiences to share. Both groups grow by working together.
Gary
I agree with you, although recently, it seems the roles are reversed more often, especially when technology is involved. For example, during computer work, it is often the younger students teaching/directing the older ones.
I agree, Some of the older students past experiences also help relate the information to real world application.
I think it is good to have a mix of young and older learners, I find that group decisions stay motivated by the older group and helps the younger group to speak up and state their opinion a little more freely. It offers some sort of security.
