Adult Learners

Adult learners are often part-time students with diverse skills and backgrounds. Adult learners appreciate when they can draw on their experiences and they learn best with real-world problem-based curricula.

Why are adult learners at OTC? OTC demographics?

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Adult Learning Principles

  • Adults are intrinsically motivated and self-directed
  • Prior knowledge, experiences, and beliefs can help (or hinder) how adult students organize and connect information.
  • Adult learners are goal oriented and learn best when learning objectives are clearly communicated
  • Adults learn better with relevant and practical applications, and they engage in activities when related to their learning goals
  • Adult students develop proficiency when they can acquire and practice integrating different skills
  • Adult students need a respectful and flexible learning environment, and appreciate targeted and frequent feedback
  • Students learn more when they are actively engaged with the content rather than passively absorbing information (Utilize Active Learning)
  • Adult learning tapers off after about 30 minutes of sustained attention, they require breaks to assimilate information
  • Students produce more meaningful work when they collaborate with others in a productive manner on well-designed tasks