Teaching Non-Traditional Students in Academic, Corporate, or Community Settings
By Deb Peterson, About.com Guide to Continuing Education
Are your students 25 or older? Teaching adult students, or non-traditional students, is called andragogy, as opposed to the teaching of children, pedagogy. Learn about adult learning theory, effective lesson plans, and assessments, whether you're in an academic, corporate, or community setting. You'll find a lot of great ice breakers here too.
Adult Learning Theory
Adults learn differently than children. They bring wisdom and life experience to the classroom, and it's important to understand that they learn better when teaching is learner-centered rather than teacher-centered. Do you know how best to teach the adults in your classroom?
- 5 Principles of Teaching Adults
- Andragogy
- Learning Styles vs. the Universal Design for Learning
- Education Quotations by Herbert Spencer
Lesson Plans
Could you use an effective lesson plan format? How about an ice breaker for the first day of class or an energizer when your students are snoozing? You'll find them here. I'll be working on a trainer tool box, so check back often for new teaching tips.
- Alphabetical List of Ice Breakers
- Can You Adapt Learning.com for Adults?
- "...mere activity masquerading as learning." -- Rosemary Clark
Classroom Management
Your students are adults, but that doesn't mean classroom management is a breeze. We've all encountered the know-it-all student, or the one who monopolizes the conversation. Find tips here from managing disruptive behavior to effective seating arrangements.
- Participant Table Preparation - Inspire Creativity
- Are You Choosing Stress?
- Managing Disruptive Behavior
- The Importance of Meaningful Conversation
Corporate Training
When you're a corporate trainer, every one of your students is an adult. Understanding adult learning is essential for you. So is making your training as effective as possible. Training dollars are some of the first to be cut when times are tough unless you really contribute to corporate strategy. I'm working on this section. Let me know what you need most and I'll help you deliver.
- Training Phone Answering Service Staff
- Continuous Learning at Work
- Needs Assessment in the Workplace
- Easy, Effective Lesson Plan Design
Quizzes
Whether you call them quizzes, assessments, evaluations, or tests, these handy tools can give you valuable information about your students. This section is under construction, so your feedback is welcome. What would you like to see?
Books for Teachers
I love my shelf of training books. Whether you're looking for theory, skill development, lesson ideas, ice breakers, seating arrangements, presentation help, whatever, there's a book out there to help you. I'll keep adding to my reviews.
- The Global Achievement Gap
- A Practical Reader in the Universal Design for Learning
- Made to Stick - 6 Sticky Principles to Make Anything More Memorable
Extras
Extras are good. Here are a few little extras for the teacher of adults.
