Issues in Adult Education

[Jason Cotugno]

As my profile stats, I joined this forum/network to learn and discuss issues related to adult education. As a result, I am posing another question.

What are the biggest issues adult learners face? Is it adjusting to campus culture? Balancing personal life with school? Nature of the courses themselves? All of the above?

As someone who did his undergrad right out of high school, I am not quite aware of the adult learners experiences. Moreover, in the job I will be starting, I will be advising traditional and non-traditional students so it would be helpful to understand the latter's perspective.

Looking forward to replies...

Jason

[John Thompson]

Three biggest issues...Time. Time. Time. Adults are juggling so many responsibilities that "time" (as in not enough of it, how to prioritize...) becomes a real issue.

[Cheryl]

Hi Jason,

Yes, all of the above. However, perhaps more relevant to this network is the expectation for adult learners to be as technologically savvy as their younger peers.

My partner (an adult learner himself), who I wouldn't say is a techno-phoebe as he uses technology in his everyday life (e.g. email, internet banking/shopping, etc.) is currently studying a French language course online. He is finding that at times the technology is somewhat hindering rather than enhancing his learning (e.g. he didn't expect to have to make a podcast for assessment purposes). Luckily he has on-hand technical help (me).

Best wishes,
Cheryl

[Eduardo Peirano]

Jason, I have the Return to College Blog and created also the Return to College Community . I am learning a lot about adult learners.

[Eduardo Peirano]

"I did see many people begin a new life once completing a technical/vocational education and earning an associate's degree.". Women enjoy going back to college to finish that degree they started when they were kids and have to leave college when they married. They enjoy meeting bright people. They tell that it is never too late to go back to college even with 50 or 60 years old. They enjoy earning the diploma even if they don't need it for work. They are more responsible.

[Africa Hands]

Great question! I also worked in admissions and advising with a mostly adult learner population. I agree with many of the challenges mentioned. Balancing work and school assignments, especially group projects is a challenge. Many traditional brick and mortar institutions aren't yet on board with evening courses and modified schedules which sends adult learners to more expensive universities. This in turn may lead to challenges in financing education. I agree with Cheryl that technology is an issue. Even though many adult learners use technology in their daily work, they aren't using it in the same manner as expected in the classroom (e.g. podcasts, course management systems, social technology) and they may not understand the point of this technology in the course. Not all students but some. Adult learners also attend college with sometimes different goals than "traditional age" students. They attend for job promotion opportunities, to open their own business, or education is a means to an end in terms of licensing and certification. In which case, they just want to graduate as quickly as possible.

One of my challenges was the experience factor. Adult learners enter college with many more years of experience in the field and may not like all the prerequisites (e.g. Algebra, Statistics, etc.) necessary to earn a degree. They may feel that their work experience is an adequate substitute for particular courses but it doesn't always work that way as schools have requirements that must be in certain ways.

Our students did appreciate workshops on study skills, note taking and time management, so be aware of these services and offer them to your advisees. You may also want to read about Andragogy, an adult learning theory by Malcolm Knowles. Here are some links with more information:

http://tip.psychology.org/knowles.html

http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-knowl.htm

Best wishes, I'm sure you'll enjoy working with this student population.

Africa Hands

[Africa Hands]

Jason,

I came across this document last night, thought you might be interested. It opens as a Word document.

Best regards,

Africa Hands