Selected Passages from Adult Learners in Focus 2008-Response

ENGL C0856

Adult Learners of L&L

Prof. Barbara Gleason

Feb. 11, 2014

Selected Passages from Adult Learners in Focus 2008

Please comment on the quoted passages below. What is your reaction to the idea presented in the quotation? What questions come to mind? Write freely but write clearly so that you produce a response that can be voiced in class later.

“Over 26 million adults in the U.S. currently have no high school diploma, more than 3 million have not attended college and are earning less than a living wage, and over 8 million have not attended college and speak little or no English.” (7)

Your response:

The first question that comes to mind after reading this is why? In situations like this how can this issue be resolved? It seems that blaming the government and state to implement better programs will in some way be beneficial, but only partially. Right from the beginning it is a blame game: first blame the students, who in turn blame their teacher for not making materials interesting or lack of experience; who in turn blames their principles for lack of training, then the blame is –passed on to the state officials who have not implemented good programs for adequately training teachers, so that they can raise attendance-hence academics- this blame will then go to the federal government for not placing enough time, effort, and money into the communities that are suffering where ultimately the crisis of high drop-out rates occur.

The entire problem goes back in to funding and the educational priorities of a community. The reoccurring cycle of not completing high school depends on your community. If a community is not funded adequately the hope of an education seems worthless and students have no other reason than to leave.  I believe to handle the situation each community in a state should be funded equally giving students coming out of the schools equal opportunities.

“The good news is that adults are making up an ever larger share of the total enrollment in postsecondary institutions. By 2004, adults made up approximately 43 percent of total enrollment at community colleges (includes full-time and part-time).” (7)

Your response:

I feel that this is a good thing yes that many adults are not giving up on educational opportunities, but in some case it is a little too late. Some companies are looking for fresh faces to work with and age does play a lot when it comes to achieving what needs to be learn.

“Nontraditional students—for example,  those who have  delayed enrollment in postsecondary education, work full-time while enrolled, or have dependents other than a spouse—were more likely than traditional students both to participate in distance education and to be in programs available entirely through distance education” (8)

This can be good and bad- good because they are now able to finally complete their education in a setting that is more convenient for them, however they are also missing out on one of the key aspects of learning, where you have an opportunity to meet and discuss with new people and gather new ideas.

"States vary significantly in their success in moving students through this traditional educational pipeline. . . . But reliance on and attention to the traditional educational pipeline alone will not be enough.” (22)

Your response:

 I agree. As times changes and as different people from different countries migrate to the US they need to take into consideration people are learning differently and are coming into the classrooms at different stages, different cultural perspectives, languages and new learning diagnosis that were not noticed in pass years. all of these new factors need to be considered before "grading" across the board

“The issue of declining numbers of high school graduates, projected in a recent study by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (208), is yet another reason why a focus on the education of younger populations will not be sufficient.” (23)

AND

“.  .  . 13.3 percent of the adult population (26,455,554 individuals) . . . never completed high school. Many of these adults may face basic literacy challenges as well. One way to help this population is to address skills shortfalls through Adult Basic Education (ABE), gain a high school credential by completing a GED, then enter postsecondary study.” (24)

Your response:

  

Brief Guide for Adult Teaching Adult Learners

        

 This book allowed me to have my first 'Ah Ha!' moment as a Teacher. I am currently teaching advance ESL students and on many occasions the task of teaching seems difficult, much less to motivate my students to come to class. The book  was very helpful when it came to simplifying the methodologies of adult learning. As a new teacher I am constantly reviewing different approaches for how to handle a classroom of different learners and how to effectively teach 'across the board', so that each student will gain something useful from the lesson. This book does a great job of teaching about different approaches. It begins with case studies that present several theories and models of adult learning. Then asks the reader a question to automatically bring them into the scenarios. I felt this was a very interesting way of laying out the book because it allows the reader to analyze the situation personally before being thought what is good or bad in the case study.   

       The book goes on to evaluate the way Adult Learners view education and why. The book states that "quiet often adult learners what to make a leap over formal knowledge and head straight to applicable knowledge" and this is why instructors need to engage learners in the decision about their own learning. Each idea of teaching methodology seems direct and i will be implementing them into my teaching styles for my adult learner students. 

1. These theories seems more incline for teaching extroverted adult learners and not introverted learners. How can a teacher use the methodologies to teach both types of learners in one classroom?