At the mention of teaching, the first image likely to pop into your head is that of an adult teacher and young students. However, when it comes to teaching, there’s no one-size-fits-all.
Individuals of all ages can learn at any point in their lives. Depending on one’s life needs, one may need to find tutor services to improve their knowledge or attend specific courses.
Understanding the differences between teaching adults and students can enhance your teaching approach and make learning more effective for your audience.
1. Learning motivation
Think back to your own school days. Were you always bursting with enthusiasm for every subject? You were most likely not. This is because students often draw their motivation to learn from external sources, such as grades and future education opportunities.
Adults, on the other hand, typically come to class with a clear goal in mind. They learn for specific reasons like seeking personal growth or acquiring a new skill for a job.
This capacity to self-direct makes a difference in the teaching and learning experience, leading to a more rewarding time.
2. Attention span
Undoubtedly, adults tend to focus more on the task at hand. You can engage them in hours of learning without losing track of the learning objectives.
Teaching adults is also more active with discussions and active participation from the learners, making for a more collaborative learning environment.
Students on the other hand, often require a teacher who can manage the chaos of the classroom. These younger students are more vibrant and tend to get distracted a lot. To sustain their interest, learning activities should comprise smaller tasks marked by breaks. It makes teaching more demanding but yields the desired outcome in the long run.
3. Life experience
Students, especially younger ones, are often new to many concepts and need foundational knowledge. They soak up information and rely heavily on the teacher for guidance. Their critical thinking and problem-solving skills are not yet developed. So, they learn many new things for the first time through structured learning.
Adults bring a wealth of life experiences to the table, which can enrich the learning environment. It’s easier for them to relate any new information to any old knowledge. A good teacher can tap into this knowledge to expand on the day’s subject for better understanding. However, prior experience may have formed a bias in adults that makes unlearning challenging.
4. Lesson structure and teaching methods
When teaching young students, you’re the architect of their learning journey. You need to break down complex concepts into bite-sized pieces and make liberal use of games, activities, and visual aids to keep them engaged. The focus is also on developing social skills and encouraging collaboration among peers.
Adult learners, however, often appreciate a more direct approach. They can handle denser materials and appreciate constructive feedback on their learning and/or performance.
However, you should note that adult learners are more prone to anxiety as they get embarrassed for not knowing certain things. Also, since adults are typically juggling multiple responsibilities, flexibility in teaching methods is important.
If you’re considering becoming a teacher, you may want to think about whether you’d be interested in teaching adults or younger students. Hopefully this article has given you some insights into some of the pros and cons that come with each option.