Needs and Characteristics of the Adult Learner

BEFORE YOU VIEW: Here are some key questions you may want to think about and/or discuss with a colleague or mentor.

What are the characteristics of adults as learners? What needs are common to adults as learners?

WHILE YOU VIEW: As you view the video look for answers to the following questions and notice the main ideas. 1. Characteristics of the Adult Learner

A. Physiological B. ____________________ C. ____________________

2. Physiological Characteristics

A. Adults may experience ____________________ from working all day. B. Adults may suffer vision and/or ____________________ loss.

3. Environmental Characteristics

A. Some adults may live in ____________________ relationships at home, with spouses and children.

B. Adults may experience job related ____________________ as well as the financial burden of supporting a family.

C. Some adults live in communities with high crime levels or may come from poverty stricken areas.

D. Adults may have had many ____________________ experiences in school and as a result may have self doubts about their abilities as learners.

E. Most adults have years of work experience and many have been quite _______________ in some aspects of their lives.

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4. Psychological Characteristics

A. Some adults may have become conditioned to ____________________ in school. B. Adults may suffer from past experiences with teachers who were insensitive and

demanding. C. Some adults who were labeled “lazy or disruptive” may suffer from _______________

self-esteem as well as an anxiety related to the traditional classroom setting. 5. Primary Needs

A. Physiological Needs B. Safety/Security Needs

6. Environmental Needs

A. Building ____________________ helps the student to feel at ease and provides him or her with an environment that is accepting and conducive to learning.

7. Psychological Needs

A. As ABS instructors, it’s our responsibility to treat our students with ________________. Answer Key: 1. B. environmental 3. A. dysfunctional 4. A. failing C. psychological B. stress C. low 2. A. fatigues D. unsuccessful 6. A. rapport B. hearing E. successful 7. A. respect Application #1: Be a good listener and observer. If the student suggests that he or she is homeless or hungry, be prepared to provide information about organizations that help families in need. Application #2: Build rapport with the student and make him or her feel comfortable. The adult needs to feel safe from bodily and mental dangers. He or she also needs to feel secure and comfortable in the learning environment. Application #3: Continue to build rapport and trust in the relationship with the student throughout the learning process and remember to treat each adult as an individual. Application #4: Tap the learner’s knowledge base and use it as much as possible because the adult needs to have the learning experience based on his/her prior knowledge. Application #5: Provide the student with a trial lesson that gives immediate success and helps the student to feel a sense of satisfaction and self-fulfillment.

Application #6: Use instructional materials that relate to the accomplishment of the student’s personal goals. This will help the adult to see the relationship between learning and his or her goals. AFTER YOU VIEW: Answer these questions. Whenever possible, discuss your answers with a colleague or mentor. 1. What other needs and characteristics of adults can you think of that were not mentioned in

this video? 2. How do you guard against stereotyping adult students? 3. What generalizations can you make based on the needs and characteristics of adults that were

presented in this video? 4. How can you use the ideas presented in this video, "Needs and Characteristics of the Adult

Learner," to be a better instructor?

ACTION PLAN: Develop a plan for implementing ideas from this video. 1. What are you going to do? (Objective) 2. How? 3. What steps will you take to make this happen? 4. What problems do you anticipate? How could the problems be solved? 5. What resources will you need? (Include mentor/coach, materials, etc.) 6. Develop a timeline for implementing your plan. 7. How will you evaluate your success?

This Viewing Guide may be reproduced for educational purposes.