Jennifer, very well stated. The more we as instructors know about our students the better we can meet their needs. Students today come from very different backgrounds. Some from very good K-12 systems yet others from failing systems. Many students in career colleges have long been removed from a formal education setting so knowing their "story" can assist greatly in understanding how best to meet their preferred learning styles and make up for some of their limitations. Each student will be different and an understanding of how to reach each student at their level of skill and understanding is key to moving them forward on their path to learning. James Jackson