what have i really learned?
i have learned to take this more seriously.....
Learning is ongoing for all of us and it is critical to continuously assess where we are as instructors and where we are going.
These are the basics of teaching but should be revisited often.
No matter the age of the student, learning is a dynamic process. We are each learners...think about how it felt when you had to operate your new smart phone.
We all have to learn by associating with what we already know...we have to be able to apply what we learn in a short period of time to ensure we really understand and can remember the new information. When teaching adults, we have to change the context but realize that new information has to compete with all the other stimuli in our contemporary world. Make the information relevant and students will pay attention. (In my opinion, noticing is really the key.)
I have learned that it is important that adult students feel that they are in control. I have also learned that there can be an overreliance on rewards and that instructors need to guide students to motivate themselves.
