Adult learning
Adult learners often bring extensive life experiences to the class room. Do you feel that this my hinder them do to being set in there ways?
Not at all. I like to see when my students are able to equate their life experience with the topics of discussion in class. I feel that they can become more motivated if they are able to contribute in a meaningful, and sometimes personal, way to the discussion at hand.
Teaching at college of mostly young adults, I do like to look to my "older vets" and rely on their personal and professional experiences when discussing the content of my course. HOWEVER, I do notice that the older adults are certainly active learners and that most of the time, the "vets" are the only ones to answer a question i pose to the class. Be careful of indulging your older adults too frequently in class discussion as I have had quite a few interrupt the class to regal personal stories and share comments and opinions that may not necessarily enhance the current material.
