Older Students
Older students who are afraid they won't fit in or won't do as well as those students who are 18 or 19 and fresh out of high school - They need to know they have strengths that will benefit the entire class. Older students usually have more focus. They are a settling influence on the younger students who many times look up to them and ask for advice.
Ernesto--
There is much to be gained from a class of mixed ages. The older students, as you indicated, have a different motivation and often a different work ethic. The younger students are more technology savvy (as a rule). And mixing up the ages is very realistic for the work place.
Susan
I think older students are a positive influence in my classes. Most of them use to make a bigger effort to pass the class, this is a great example younger students see day by day and try to follow
I like many others totally agree. I have had many adult (older) learners and they make some of my best students. They are many times more motivated and want to learn. They are also many times juggling work, family and school responsibilities and they are learning the art of prioritizing whereas many of the fresh out of high school students don't have those skill sets yet.
Laura--
You make a good point here about older students. They come with some of those 'soft' skills in place because of experience. However, sometimes they aren't the right ones. Unlearning can be much more difficult that we acknowledge.
Susan
I find older students tend to have time management, budgeting, and some workplace soft-skills in place. They tend to need mentoring/support in how to change and work with faulty beliefs that have created stressful life circumstances or limited success in living up to their potential.
Andy--
Interesting observation and I think you are right. In some ways, it is more difficult and they certainly have more distractions. I think they are pretty excited as well once the information 'clicks'.
Susan
Les--
Right you are! It also is a very realistic work environment.
Susan
Older students are usually easier to work with but they do have to try harder. I believe it is due to more outside responsabilities and distractions which make it harder for them to focus completely on the course. However they do have a better appreciation of what they are getting and what it means to their future, so they are willing to try harder,
It is good to have a mixture of older students and younger students. Each group has different skill sets that they can use to help each other. When the students realize that they can help each other it brings more unity to a classroom.
Eric--
You are very correct. Both age groups can learn from each other if we encourage that. It is a realistic work environment as well.
Susan
younger students i believe do look up to the older ones, but i've also seen that being an instructor at a Beauty school, it can go both ways.
Cristina-
Recognizing student accomplishments is excellent and I really like your suggestion of making them 'assistants'! Kudos!
Susan
Pay attention and concentrate better when learning new skills. In many cases when they
have mastered their skills well, I like to appoint them as my assistant. They can help new
studentss with minor tasks in the classroom.
Also I'm giving them the satisfaction of helping
someone else with their knowledge.
Tammy--
Excellent observation. Technology can be a very frightening thing to those who aren't comfortable.
This is where a virtual orientation where people call in to a phone bridge might be helpful. You can walk them through the functionality of your online resources/classroom and answer questions real time.
Susan
One thing I've found in my experience with "older" students is that they often tend to be a little hesitant regarding their technological skills. These students grew up in a time before the internet even existed! Their trepidation regarding attending an online university is palpable, sometimes. In order to counteract this, I suggest as many resources (tutorials, labs, etc) that I can think of, in order to help the students feel more comfortable.
Has anyone else experienced this, too? And how have you dealt with it?
Bernie--
Great point. Each student brings unique attributes to the classroom...some good, some not-so-good. Treating them all as individuals and meeting their particular needs, while also helping them learn to work in diverse groups, is a large part of our mission.
Great job!
Susan
I agree, older students usually have more dissapline and their life experience makes them look at education in a more practical light. On the other hand older students can be more resistant to change, and demand a higher level of respect when delt with. I take a different tone when dealing with older students, reasuing and at times taking extra time to explain too impart a sense of caring for their learning experience.
Tami--
Good point. Adult students bring a wealth of information to the course and can add a great deal as well as to help mentor the younger ones. However, bringing all that 'experience' in to the classroom can create great challenges on many fronts.
Susan
