What do you see as the challenges of online learning and age mix?
What are the challenges others are facing when working with groups and a broad age-range mix, especially when it comes to technical savvy?
Carrie,
I have found that getting your own DropBox and using excel regularly while also incorporate videos into your assignments and/or class discussion helps with the technical experience for you and the students. At the end of the day lectures and class discussion is still productive but adding audio or visual adds to how our young students learn.
Antoine Lewis
So being one of those older people not so tech savvy, I have to say that is why I am taking this class to get some new ideas. I have already found that their are different search engines for academic learning. I can not wait to use that knowledge. I also have to say that I am so amazed with the younger people, they are so quick at picking up new things like technology. It is like it is part of their DNA. These young people grow up with hearing terms like search engines, zip files, rar, and never open an exe. It is a whole foreign language class they didn't offer back when computers when these big huge blocks that took up most of the room. So the challenges I see in my classroom is the language barrier.
Martha,
I agree that the older generation often lack computer skills. The hard part can be those that do not embarrass change or giving it a chance. This digital age we are in can intimidate those older student wanting to further their education. I believe technology is good but we in higher education must do our part in having a balance of traditonal and new teaching methods. Lastly a proper credit worthy orientation course should be provided in my opinion to demonstrate you can handle online learning and the technology involved.
Antoine Lewis
It seems that the majority of the students lacking computer skills are older. However, I do get younger students who are computer phobic. A lot of the fears of students stem from a lack of exposure to technology. I am amazed, though, at the number of students who embrace technology but lack some basic skills. For instances, many students will type a URL in a search engine instead of the appropriate location to find a specific site.
Denise,
I like to remind those older students that push back as it related to online learning that I will be there to support them along the way and that employers have and will go this route with job training and they will already expect you to have some basic computer skills
Antoine Lewis
I embrace the challenges with the older generations and help them to understand the main reason they are reintegrating education in their careers. They aren't here to just be stagnant and be unaccepting to change, instead they are here because they are embracing the challenge of change and reinvention. Most times that little first day speech really hits home!
Linda,
This is a good compromise for our students. The problem we often have is one instructor does this but not all faculty will do this during their duration of the program. This accommodation could be used for quizzes also depending on the grading options for the institutions.
Antoine Lewis
I, like the responder above have found that the younger students rely on internet and smart phones more so than students over the age of 35. Younger students look forward to online learning, assignments and projects. Many of my older students 50 and above may not even have a computer, internet or a smart phone. I realize when making assignments due on-line in a campus based class, you also need to allow hard-copy turn-ins as well.
Janet,
This a good concept but often hard to do unless you have an assessment of some kind showing who how technically savy a student is. As faculty keeping it simple or providing alternate options as needed has worked for me when dealing with a multi-generational group
Antoine Lewis
Teaching any class now involves technology and the younger students are more involved with technology and easily comprehend and manipulate the programs with ease. The older students need more one-on-one instruction and coaxing to learn the systems and take advantage of what can be learned. In a classroom that is multi-generational if is sometimes difficult to reach all students. The best recourse is to have a course for students that are not tech savvy prior to entering a course that is technical. Also, allow the younger studenets to assist the other students can bring the classroom closer and allow the yournger students the oppotunity to understand that teaching others is a a great opportunity.
Maria,
This is a tough balancing act when you have a large range like the one you mentioned. Many instructors/institutions offer video tutorials to assist students with the technical aspect. Often the older students understand the material quicker but have trouble using the learning platform and vice versa for the younger students.
Antoine Lewis
I have a broad range of ages in my classroom from right out of high school at age 18 to mid 60's. Lucky for me, I happen to be right in the middle, so I can relate to both. I am trying to keep up with technological advancements as my older students do, while enjoying the knowledge I DO have like my younger students do. I am willing to share with my students as well as learn right along with them. So while it is a challenge keeping that happy medium with regards to technology in the classroom, it is also a pleasure keeping up with the younger students while at the same time adapting and learning the newest advancements with the older ones.
Michelle,
This is a problem many faculty members face with an online course. The older students it can be technology and the younger students it is learning how to be an independent learning. By trail/error and communication/follow up one can help the student with any frustrations/challenges.-Good Luck
Antoine Lewis
With the different age groups you also have different learning experiences. Some of the more mature learners may have very little experience with technology and fear it. While your younger learners have grown up with technology and embrace it. Trying to find common ground can sometimes be quite challenging. This is compounded by having the class all online. I am sure there are many students that would love to learn the material. They may shy away from online class due to the lack of understanding how to use the technology of an online class.
Lanette,
I agree that face to face conversation is a component that is missed in an online environment. The plus is the flexibility to respond which allow student in various parts of the world to communicate.
According to the LA Times
" As colleges are rushing -- or being pushed -- to embrace online education, they might want to take pause: Most students prefer connecting with teachers and fellow students and don’t want to take all of their classes online, a new study suggests"
Antoine Lewis
The challenges are the lack of face to face conversation. In a true conversation there are not the 'taking turns' you have with online responses. In face to face conversation you can react to part of a sentence and the other person can response to that. Plus, the lack of facial expressions and voice tones.
Kevin,
Teaching various age groups can be challenging because of learning styles and the tech generation. Adapting our teaching is important. Have at least three delivery methods can help when onsite or online. The student having the option to listen, read and/or go through a hands on experience can allow a student to stay more engaged. Lastly, treating the first day of a class like orientation and have an ice breaker can allow you to share information regarding possible technical challenges you may have to face and better prepare.
Antoine Lewis
Whether or not the class is online or in-house, there is an extreme difference with students coming out of high school and those coming to school in their 40's or 50's. It is extremely difficult to teach on one level. You have to be extremely flexible and understand how to avoid being boring vs. technically overwhelming. Many older students have really never used a computer, so asking them to create a powerpoint would be a daunting task for them.
Cheryl,
Often time the younger generation is teaching the older generation how to use the latest technology. It is important to incorporate the computer basics in a class at least because it is a generation gap in education when it comes to computers. Older students tend to push back. Giving options on how an assignment can be delivered, providing tutorials and allowing time to just navigate and become familiar with a technology helps.
Antoine Lewis
