Brett White

When students feel you actually care about them as people, and establish that connection with them, you have a much better chance of actually getting good results.

It's important to meet students where they are and be considerate of the things they go through as people.

I find having a passionate classroom environment helps keep students engaged and accountable, while also making sure they feel I care about their progress and own musical desires.

I believe patience and coming from a kind place helps students feel engaged, and keeping up with trends as well.

Intrinsic and extrinsic motivators go hand in hand in adult education. Extrinsic help encourage students that are driving by rewards, while the intrinsic come a long during the process especially when the student realizes they enjoy the work.

Allowing students to have autonomy can motivate them to reach higher goals and allows the instructor to guide along the way instead of spoon feeding students.

The first class must set the tone for the environment and expectations. Students should have a clear idea of what to expect and to interact with their instructor. 

I learned that adult learners potentially have more to handle outside of their learning environment, and they respect concise instructive, relatability, and flexibility. Encouraging discussions that are engaging and purposeful are key. I plan on applying this to my lesson plans and course outcomes by creating more group discussions by drawing inspiration from my adult learner's own experiences.