Lollie Wahl

One of the most important information I got out of this current module was Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and how important that is to a student's success. If a student is worried about where their next meal is coming from or whether they have a safe place to sleep at night, it's going to be difficult for them to be a successful student. As an instructor, I see this problem a lot with my student's and it's a horrible feeling hearing their stories and not being able to help them other than to provide online resources.

This module reminded me that adult learners are motivated in different ways, and it's important to understand what drives each student. I want to continue to find ways to connect what my students are learning to real-world experiences and feedback and encourage my students to take ownership of their learning and growth.

I learned that adult learners often respond better to intrinsic motivators because they connect directly to personal goals, career relevance, and real-life meaning.

From this module, I learned how closely security and autonomy needs to work together. Security helps learners feel comfortable enough to participate, and autonomy allows them to take responsibility for their learning. Both must be intentionally supported. I also gained a better understanding of how classroom structure, communication, and instructor attitudes directly influence student engagement and confidence.