Adult Education

Many believe that adult learning are classes taken by older students usually in the evenings. Others identify it as people returning to an educational or training session after taking a break from their initial schooling to acquire new knowledge and skills.

I would personally define adult learning as an opportunity for adults that may exist in a variety of settings. The sites can range from a formal institution to a daily practical learning within their own environment and at one’s pace.

I am a firm believer that one of the first and important entities is to recognize one’s prior skills, understanding, and experiences acquired through life. Then one has to have a desire that transpires within to continue to learn and accept new changes presented and adapted within one’s society. Adult learning should take into consideration the biological, psychological development, and socio cultural that someone has been previously exposed to.

Adult learning has revitalized me with multiple benefits received from of my fellow students, staff members and instructors. Returning to a learning formal environment, has allowed me to grow within, understand others, reflect on my own decisions, and how I interact with others. It is common that adult learners have had a lifetime collection of previous experience and knowledge. Having years of life skills versus the traditional youth students, we are able to share, support, and often times promote in doing what is ethical. When learning something new, most adults need to see how it fits in or how it is different than what they already know.

One of the most commonly used ways to provide opportunities for learners is to share information and ideas by inviting them to participate in focus groups, team meetings and orientations for information.

Personally, there are several expectations that I have from my professor relative to adult learning. He or she will need to provide a welcoming atmosphere,