Hi Leslie:
You're right about adult learners - they're definetly different from say, post HS students. Fortunately, responsible learners will have experienced the realities of work life, and with that comes conforming to expectations. This really helps when it comes to dolling out assignments. Also, as you pointed out, the diversity of experiences can often be helpful in augmenting selected topics (as you say, as long as it is on point).
Regards, Barry