I have quite a bit of older students in my classroom, and the thing that seems to be the most consistent is that they are not looking for excuses. By this I mean they want to know what they need to do, and they do it. They don't really look for reasons as to why the work isn't complete.
Laszlo,
Good analysis on how older students involve themselves in the learning process. Life experiences go a long way in helping these students to get settled into the course and feeling like they can be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe experience is a key factor when it comes to expertise and comfort level (confidence). An older student has had more opportunities with many situations in life, and has probably dabbled with the course subject matter. They are generally more focused and eager to understand the material. They also tend to have better communication tools and therefore share their knowledge with the younger students...who are still uncomfortable with public speaking situations. Older students are also financially established and can offer financial support to a situation that may require expenses.
For these reasons an older student has a slight advantage over less experienced (younger students) and tend to perform better overall.
