Understanding the unique challenges of teaching adults

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Although teaching students of any age has rewards and challenges, teaching adults has unique issues. Students often return to school with rooted habits, work and family obligations and certain biases that can affect their learning.

Those who teach adult students should be aware that school may not be the only priority for these students. While adult students have personal and professional goals, they’re trying to balance those with other things that may weigh equally in their minds. As instructors, it’s important to help facilitate their growth as they navigate that balance in their lives.

Whether adult educators feel supported and prepared for teaching adult students or desire further guidance, learning about the challenges they may face can help them better address them. Here are four challenges as well as advice to navigate each situation.

Challenge #1: Adults may learn differently.

Because adult students likely have been in the workforce and out of the academic setting for a while, they learn new material differently. They have years of experiences and past education that they’re using as the basis to make meaning out of new information.

Solution: Incorporate students' work experience into coursework.

Educators of adults can talk with their students about their workplace experiences and how this affects their view of the concepts they’re learning. Acknowledging what they know about a subject can help them apply their prior knowledge and experience to new subject matter.

Educators can also build their teaching and learning methodology through instructional design training. Learn more about how to incorporate diverse learning styles into teaching methods with an MS in Education, Adult Education degree.

Challenge #2: In some cases, adults have not been in a classroom setting for some time.

Traditional students likely haven’t lost the rhythm of being in a classroom because they may have transitioned directly from high school to college. For adult students, adjusting to being in the classroom again – or adjusting to an online, virtual class setting – with an instructor and coursework to be completed outside of class hours may be a more difficult transition.

Solution: Consider shifting teaching methods.

Encouraging adult students to ask questions and offering extended or more flexible office hours may help make them more comfortable during the course. Another way to engage adult students in course material is by allowing them to interact with their classmates through online forums or group discussions. This offers students the opportunity to share their own experiences and takeaways while learning from the larger group.

Challenge #3: Adult students may struggle with motivation or feelings of self-doubt.

Adult students returning to school could have intrinsic motivation to pursue a degree, but maintaining that motivation may be tricky. Beyond barriers like time or money, some could be affected by self-doubt. Change is daunting, and they may be outside their comfort zones.

Solution: Encourage personal growth.

Educators can reassure students that their skills are growing and recognize their hard work. Having a supportive community of other classmates – people who are in the same boat – can also help motivate adult learning.

Challenge #4: Adult students may be balancing responsibilities outside of school.

Most adult students may be returning to school after time away or may have other commitments. Family, work and community engagements may come first for these students, and it’s important for educators to recognize and prepare for this.

Solution: Be flexible.

Be candid with adult students. Acknowledging that adult students have other priorities might relieve some stress. What’s important is assisting students’ growth and development and creating an environment where they feel supported and comfortable. Flexible office hours and weekend meeting times can allow busy adult students a chance to talk with their instructor. Depending on the degree program, some learning formats offer more flexibility to help students balance their outside responsibilities with their academic goals.

Learn more about online MS in Education, Adult Education and EdD in Adult Education programs from Capella, which emphasize reflective practice, current theory and best practices for teaching students of various needs and backgrounds.