Presenters: Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Tisdell Ph.D | Steven Schmidt Ph.D | Alfred Siha Ph.D | Edward Taylor Ph.D | Robin Redmon Wright Ph.D | Mary Lou Avera | Perdeta Bush
This course is worth 5 hours (0.5 CEUs) of professional development. A certificate of completion can be printed once the program has been completed.
About this Course
Many adult learners bring a rich reservoir of life experience and perspective into the classroom, serving as a wonderful resource for learning. How do we best tap into this valuable resource and enhance the adult learner’s educational experience? This show explores strategies to enhance the adult learner’s educational journey, intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation, implementation of effective techniques, and exposes common myths and preconceived notions that may prove harmful to the adult learner.
Module 1: Challenges and the Adult Learner
In this module, STARLINK speaks to several experts who uncover the specific challenges adult students face and how they are meeting these challenges. We know that people don’t exist in a vacuum; there is a lager socio-cultural context to consider, especially in regards to the adult learner. While most adult learners tend to be self-directing and bring rich life experience to the classroom, many share the insecure feeling that they “don’t belong” or that they are an “imposter”. Discover how empathizing with the student, connecting on a personal level, humor, and peer support can assist with adult learning.
Module 2: Experiential and Transformative Learning
STARLINK asks our experts about the experience factor, best practices regarding learning experience vs. life experience, connecting curriculum to the adult learner’s life experience, and finding out what motivates them. Experience can be a double edged sword and the life experiences an adult learner brings to the classroom can enhance and add value to the learning environment; it can also create defensiveness to new learning ideas. Theories, such as the Transformative Learning Theory, help us to gain perspective.
Module 3: Engagement
Connecting your learning objectives to the adult learner’s own professional or personal experience is key in staying relevant. Experts discuss relevance and the adult learner, creating a community of learners, adjusting the syllabus to better connect with the adult learner, and the value of teaching with the learner’s end goal in mind. Most adult learners are “maxed out”, firing on all cylinders after a long day at work, dealing with family issues, and trying to juggle their learning with a very busy life. Explore the utilization of small groups/peer teaching, and many more practical tips and best practices to maximize engagement.
