I have noticed the trend shifting towards autonomous learning. Some of my assignments already have these embedded in the Capstone class that I teach. I will implement more of the suggested strategies for a more secure and autonomous learning environment.

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.

Creating a secure learning environment begins with clearly communicating course objectives, expectations, and outcomes while providing students with opportunities to ask questions and engage in hands-on learning. Student security is essential to academic success, as learners may experience vulnerability in various situations. How educators recognize and respond to these situations can significantly impact students' confidence, engagement, and long-term success. Maintaining a supportive, respectful, and inclusive learning environment is vital in both online and on-ground instruction.

I learned that adult learners value having their time respected and benefit most from curriculum that connects directly to real-world applications and personal experiences. Incorporating practical exercises and relevant examples helps adult learners recognize the value of what they are learning, apply new knowledge to real-life situations, and make meaningful progress toward their personal and professional goals.

I also learned that teaching adult learners differs from teaching children. Adult learners often draw upon their existing knowledge, life experiences, and professional backgrounds to understand and absorb new information. In contrast, children may have fewer prior experiences to draw from and can… >>>

It's important to balance both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators.  However I personally like the use of extrinsic motivation because it can show them how learning a specific skillset can help them in the jobmarket.

Students will be more engaged and eager to learn when they have a sense of ownership in the course or their studies in general.

Students want to feel secure when starting something new.  Clear outlines of what to expect.  Group projects/activities in pairs can help as students don't like competition per say.

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.

helping students to find purpose and meaning in what they are learning is important when trying to motivate them.