The age difference
Right now I am teaching a class where the age ranges from 20-62 years old. The older students are able to help bring in life experience to the class and really drive home the message to the younger students about what we are talking about. The younger students are able to help the older students with the technology that we are using in class. There are definitely some differences in how the students react in class because of their age. It does add a very nice dynamic to the class.
Hi Robert,
This is a common situation with diverse age groups as you mention. This is why it is important to work hard a setting up a situation where both age groups can contribute to the solution of problems or case studies. It helps to develop respect one for another when both groups are working on solving a problem or resolving a case study.
Gary
I agree that both older and younger students can benefit from the other group. However, one of the things I have noticed is that older students gtenerally do not "put up" with some of the immature behavior of come younger students, and have a hard time with them when they know the younger student is not applying themself and thus is not succeeding.
Hi Kimberly,
This is a great idea. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
I find that to be true also. What I do to combat this is at the end of my test papers on Fridays, I place a little questions/comments box on the last page. I tell my students to write down any concerns that they would like for me to address confidentially. It works great!
Sounds interesting! I like the mix of older and younger students. I find little ways to identify with both of ends of the spectrum. Movies, and current events are a great way to reach the younger students, and past events, music, etc. are good ways to reach the older students. Music is an excellent way to reach both really.
I like the age difference for the most part...there is usually at least one student that gets my references to 80s events(or older)....but most don't get it. I use the younger students to keep me upto date on references such as new TV/movies and words they use for activities we used to do and had a name for..but they have made them their own and renamed them. It adds a lot of humor when they think something is new and I let them know "we used to do that but we called it _______" They are often in disbelief, but I think it makes me more 'human' to them.
We also occasionally(and often unfortunately)get the younger student emulating and older student and taking on that students thoughts and habits (kind of a worship relationship) these can get completely out of hand (or of course can be good)
Hi Joshua,
What a great example of how to approach the classroom even when you are a young instructor. Your success should be viewed by other young instructors of how to capitalize on your abilities and use your students as resources.
Gary
As a young instructor -- I'm still in my twenties -- I've run into occasions where my students are actually older than I am. I've found that this actually benefits me and my teaching methods a great deal. While I know I'm qualified for the position I'm in, I find that dealing with older students has only made me a more confident instructor; that is, I feel a need to ensure older students, through meticulous lesson-planning and careful lecturing, that they can trust my methods despite the fact I have less life experience. Thus far the results have been superb: impressing untraditional students goes a great deal toward impressing young students, as well!
I also teach classes on the range of 18 through about 50. What I am experiencing is both a little frustrating, but also refreshing. The younger students sometimes tend to be a little disruptive, and the older students will reprimand them a little. On the reverse end, the younger students will also help the older students to understand the technical aspects of the class. The balance is incredible!
Hi Vonda,
Yes, I have. What I do is to assign learning groups in my classes. The learning groups are randomly assigned as far as the students know but I do make sure I have a good mix of the students. I use a lot of case studies and problem solving in my courses. What I have found is that the students gel together for the common cause of solving the problem to which they have been assigned. When an older students needs some help with technology the younger students help out because they want their group to be successful. The younger students often forget that they are really tutoring the older students on technology because they have a bigger goal in mind rather than just helping each other.
Gary
Is there a specific way that you address the differences in age? I have found that sometimes the younger generations don't want to take time to help an older student understand the technical side of things. Have you run into this?
I also teach classes on the range of 18-60 years old, howver I have never encountered any problems between that gap of difference ages. It has been a good thing, because the young people will bring the technology advice and the older people will bring there personal experience. However, I had a situation that most of my class was young and the non-traditional student get frustraded with the youngest student personalities. For example talking a lot or trying to complain about stuff. It that moment, me as the Instructor have to put the rules back on track and make the "atmosphere" of the class better.
I also teach classes that range from 18-60 but have never encountered any problems between the ages. many of my students are either around the same age as I am or older but that has never been a problem either. I think it is the way I present myself and the material that they have an understanding and respect of myself and each other.
I also like many of you teach in a classroom where the age can vary from 18-50. I do enjoy the dynamic that it can bring to the classroom. It is also nice to see some of the younger generation attempting to help the non traditional generation in learning and vice versa.
Sometimes my older students will fail to ask questions in class. They have built up a fear over the years and bring it into the classroom. I try to encourage them privately to speak up in class
I have really noticed this, also. The class ages I teach are between 18-40 and alot of the younger students don't speak up when they have questions. Most of the time, it is the older students that ask for clarification. I think its great to have such a mixture of ages in the classroom.
Hi Maria,
I agree that students of mixed ages brings a nice dimension to a class. I'm always glad to have that happen. I find that older students are usually less hesitant to ask clarifying questions and offer experiential insight to topics we may be discussing. That, in turn, encourages the younger students to speak up as well, and helps build rapport among the class members.
Maria - a great way to bring the class together and have them working as a team. I would hope my faculty are using the same techiques. One of the problems, I am faced with is the faculty are typical older that most students and try to judge them on their age and life experiences, which in almost all cases will be much different that their students. We work hard on trying to ensure they use their age and life experience in a positive matter and not in a judgemental way.
Hi Trampas,
Great to hear. Students are a great resource to use in the class so if you can promote exchanges between different age groups with positive results you are doing a great job as a class manager.
Gary
