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This Week's Topic Teaching Adult Learners Adult learners sometimes experience self-consciousness and anxiety about their age and abilities. Yet, the same people may be verbal and assertive when the instructor presents information inconsistent with their experiences. This week’s tips focus on teaching adults returning to higher education. This Week's Tips Using the Adult Learner's Experience (Monday) Most adults have years of experience and a wealth of information. Tap into adult learners’ experience and knowledge to add enrichment to the class and to engage the students in active learning. Ask open-ended questions. Focus on students’ strengths. Dialogue with students. Use students as resources of information. Finally, build team/group activities into the course. Adults Have Opinions (Tuesday) Most adult learners come into the classroom with firmly established values and beliefs. To show respect for the belief systems of adult learners: Listen attentively to all students’ beliefs, and never argue about their validity. Encourage students to talk about their beliefs and how they relate to the course material. How Adults Relate to New Information (Wednesday) Adult learners relate new information to past experience. If new information is outside of or in conflict with this experience, adult learners may challenge the validity of the information. To help keep your course on track: Assess the specific needs of the class at the beginning by asking questions about students' backgrounds and experience. Provide practical real-world examples for the material. Use students' experience to further learning by asking students to provide their own examples. Adults are Different (Thursday) Adult learners have varied experiences and different learning styles. Use a variety of teaching methods to create the best learning environment for each student. See this week’s Download Depot and keep these tips in mind when planning your course: Use a variety of different auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic teaching methods. Have groups work on problem-solving activities. Adults are often self-directed, so encourage adult students to work on their own.
Adults May Be Self-conscious (Friday) Many adult learners have been out of the classroom for awhile and may lack self-confidence. People will not ask questions if they fear being ridiculed. To provide a safe learning environment and add to student confidence: Be supportive. Encourage questions, and treat each question with dignity. Answer each question with respect, even if you have answered the same question before. Listen. If students admit they are afraid, let them know you understand. Be respectful of students' feelings. Finally, don’t tell students they have no reason to be fearful. |
