Teaching Adult Learners

Course Description

Explore the latest educational strategies tailored specifically for a student-centered classroom that caters to adults. We will begin by understanding the unique needs and motivations of adult students, followed by an analysis of their diverse learning styles and how to leverage their strengths for effective teaching. You will also encounter a variety of innovative techniques that transform your students into active participants in their education, alongside tools—ranging from high-tech to no-tech—that will enhance engagement. We will tackle the critical aspects of material organization, crafting robust lesson plans, and developing effective assessments while also focusing on teaching essential study skills. Ultimately, you will gain insights into creating an effective learning environment for all students, including those with disabilities.

Learning Objectives

What You Will Learn

• Explore the unique needs and motivations of adult students and find out just what they're expecting from your class
• Examine your students' different learning styles and multiple intelligences and look at how you can teach to each learner's strengths
• Learn ways to get misbehaving or under-achieving students back on track
• Delve into a host of innovative teaching techniques that will turn your students into active learners and set them up for success
• Understand high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech educational tools you can use to capture and hold your students' attention
• Learn how to organize your material effectively and design strong lesson plans
• Learn how to create effective tests and how to teach your students good study skills
• Understand how to make your classroom accessible and enjoyable for students with disabilities

Course Syllabus

Details

Keys To Success in Your Teaching Career

A great classroom starts with a great teacher—and that's you! This lesson introduces how you can grow in your job as an adult educator by enhancing your professionalism and managing your time effectively. In addition, you will learn how to boost your confidence and establish your authority in the classroom.

Creatiing a Positive Learning Environment

Adult students are different than kids and understanding those differences can help you reach and teach them. This lesson explores what makes adult learners tick and how you can best meet their needs. In addition, you will learn about preparing for that big first day by getting your paperwork in order.

Understanding Learning Styles

Jill loves testing the rules. Germaine is a shy bookworm. Claire is an artist. All of these adults have different learning styles and intelligences. This lesson explores two different models of learning styles and introduces eight intelligences you will want to factor into your lesson plans.

Managing, Supervising, and Counseling Your Students

"Zzzzzzz" This is the sound of Darren snoozing in the corner as you're trying to lecture. Meanwhile, Emily and Sherelle are busy gossiping about their weekend. Does this sound like your classroom? If so, you will enjoy this lesson, which introduces many techniques to get misbehaving students back on track.

Basic Teaching Methods

Remember the old days, when teachers lectured for hours while students took notes or dozed? Those days are gone! This lesson introduces a host of innovative techniques, from window paning and role-playing to mnemonics and visualization, that work like magic in a student-centered classroom.

Planning Your Course

"Proper prior planning" may be a cliché, but it's also an excellent idea. This lesson looks at the upfront work that can set you up for success in the classroom. To do so, you will discover the 12 steps for creating a dynamite course outline.

Educational Aids and Classroom Technology

Just as an interior decorator accents a room with bright colors and great fabrics, you can accent your classroom presentations with the right audiovisual aids. This lesson looks at high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech educational aids and technology you can use to capture and keep your students' attention.

Creating Effective Presentations

What motivates your students to learn? This lesson introduces 10 needs and desires that bring learners to your classroom—and you will discover how to tap into those motivators during your presentations. You will also learn how to create powerful presentation openings, content, and closings.

Grading and Advising Your Students

This lesson explores the A-B-C's of grading and the ways to write top-notch test questions. In addition, you will discover great tools for assessing any type of skill, from cake-baking to hairdressing. You will also find out how to avoid the most common mistakes teachers make when they assess students.

Teaching Students Who Have Special Needs

This lesson focus on making your class accessible and enjoyable for students with disabilities. You will learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), how to comply with this law, and common learning disabilities—dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in particular.

Teaching Study Skills and Test-Taking Techniques

Even if you create great lessons, your students will succeed only if they have great study habits and efficient test-taking skills. This lesson explores ways to beef up your students' study skills and look at strategies for test-taking.

Starting a Career as an Adult Educator

Enough about your students—this lesson is all about you! Whether you're a brand-new teacher or an experienced educator looking for new classroom opportunities, you will find tips here on how to power up your job search.

Measure of Performance

Upon completion you will be ready to:

• Gain tricks and techniques for winning over this fun, exciting, and very demanding group of students
• Gain the confidence you need to succeed in teaching adults with the information and hands-on activities in this course
• Discover how to create a student-centered classroom that's perfectly suited for adult learners

Course Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please fill out the self-disclosure form. The Office of Disability Services coordinates services for students with disabilities. Documentation of a disability needs to be on file in that office before any accommodations can be provided.