Solutions to Obstacles in Teaching Adult Learners

In a recent article that I wrote entitled, "Obstacles in Teaching Adult Learners," I indicated that I'd write another article on solutions to these issues. Some of those problems that adult learners face are: life problems, uncomfortable environment, insecurities, fears, different learning styles. And while these problems can make teaching your topic to adult learns difficult, it can be done. Let's look at each problem and discuss a possible solution for each.

Problem:
Life problems. Many adults have their minds on so many others things in the personal lives, it's hard to come to the classroom, let alone stay focused on education.

Solution:
Consider holding the class at a time that is convenient for the student rather than the instructor. Dinner time is a hectic time with adult students commuting home from their jobs, moving the kids from location to location, making dinner, and other errands. So don't offer the class at 5:30 or 6:00 making it almost impossible to get to class. Try holding it around 7:00 or 7:30 after the all the activity wears down. Or, if your institution will allow you, create the class as an online session or record it and post it online or on DVD for students to view at their convenience.

Problem:
Uncomfortable environment. Adults student's learning abilities are affected by uncomfortable chairs and chilly environments.

Solution:
If your class is going to be in the classroom rather than a telecommuting session of some sort, get to the classroom early. Make sure all light bulbs are illuminated and that the temperature is set at a comfortable level. If you have a choice about the chairs available, sit in the chair and make sure they are comfortable. If not, swap them out for something better if you have access to other chairs. And encourage your students to bring in whatever will make them more comfortable such as a chair pad to sit on. This must be within reason of course. You don't want your students getting to comfy in the classroom.

Problem:
Insecurities. Adults learners are often worried their peers and the instructor is smarter than them since they haven't been in school for such a long time.

Solution:
As the instructor you need to provide plenty of encouragement. If your student gets an answer to a question right, be sure to praise them publicly about it. It doesn't hurt to provide advice on ways they can enhance a skill they seem to be excelling at. Your students will appreciate your individualized attention.

Problem:
Fears. The topic itself that you are teaching may be fearful to the student as is the case with those adults trying to learn new technology.

Solution:
Just be as patient as possible and try to reinforce that plenty of other people have conquered the topic, and provide examples, and then remind them that they can accomplish it too.

Problem:
Different learning styles. Everyone likes and is successful learning in different ways. When you struggle to learn something, it's not always because "it isn't your thing," "or that you lack intelligence." It's often because you are trying to be forced to learn something in a way that isn't natural to you.

Solution:
As the instructor, you need to provide your material in a variety of ways. You should present in the classroom, give written instructions, create a Power Point presentation to reach people who are visual, place your content online, if possible, for those who like to go back and review things multiple times. If you really have time, it would hurt to create a video and post that online for it to be viewed repeatedly until your students feel like they've learn what they want to. Finally, you can set up a discussion board for students to be on equal playing fields and to learn from each other.

Despite all the difficult issues, just keep at teaching your adult students and remember why you became a teacher in the first place - to help others learn.

To read my previous article, "Obstacles in Teaching Adults," visit the links section on this page.