Wendy, Not really. Older students in any college setting have the fear of failing because they feel they are not current on technology, content or study habits. In addition, they fear they will be made fun of by younger students so there is the social dynamic going on as well. The key to getting them settled into any post-secondary class is to help them feel accepted and comfortable. Then if you can provide them with early success in the course where they can use their life experiences to help them their self confidence really soars. I provide my classes with guided notes and this helps a lot with my older students because they have the key concepts identified for them so they can keep up with the class while they are honing their study skills. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.