Non-traditional Students
Since the average age is 28 for an adult college student, he or she has a life experience beyond that of the "traditional" younger college student. The motivation of the older student to learn, exceeds the learning interest, and usually the motivational learning experience of the younger student.
Douglas,
I agree about your adult learners. I teach at night as well so I know what you are speaking about. They have worked all day yet come to class because they want to expand and/or create career options for themselves. They are motivated and reay to learn for the most part.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The learning doesn't have to be too regimented though. Sure, they are in a classroom but most of the adult learners are taking one or two courses since they probably have a job already. And those courses are at night. Most, in my experience, want to be there.
The so called "structure learning" can be assimilated in many diverse forms. Every concept or engaging topic can be systematically aligned to what you have established as the student motivational characteristics of the class. This diverse learning environment that you create will assist tremendously in student retention numbers.
a majority of our students never finished school and have worked different jobs and now they have an oppertunity to make a good living and its kind of hard get into regiment of structured learning
These student have a bigger perpuse to be in school, for they may have children, homes and much more to privide for and it is important for them to get the edducation for the hopes of more pay.
