Insights to Teaching Adults

1.    Adult’s personalities and study habits are relatively securely formed, either for good or bad.

2.    Adults have more emotional connections which they associate with words, situations,
       institutions, and people.

3.    Some adults may have negative feelings about the learning process, or authority figures.

4.    Adults often have a burden of having accepted some stereotypes about personality or beliefs. 
       Children, who are in a more formative stage of development, are less rigid in their views.

 
5.    Adults may have some fears of inadequacy and failure.

6.    Adults may subconsciously fear the changes that come with education.

7.   Most adults prefer to see immediate relevance and practical applications for knowledge.

8.    Groups of adults vary more in skills, interests, experiences, and education than groups of children;
       thus more flexible and varied teaching strategies may be required.

9.    Learners of all ages can look at situations, not as they  are, but they perceive them.

10.  Adults have different motivations for entering learning environments.  These may include both
        vocational skills and social status.

11.  Adults like participating in learning, rather than being lectured.  

12.  Adults expect  clear directions. If they don’t understand, examine your explanation, and explore
       new methods.

13.  Adults have formed more connections between thinking, feeling and doing.  New learning interrupts
      these patterns.

14.  Adults learn best to meet personal goals.

15.  Adults learn best when they are comfortable within their learning group.

16.  Adults may have barriers to learning which need to be addressed.
  

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