Module 1 – The Adult Learner
Introduction – An Essential Foundation
This module is designed to help you think about the things you might do and the attitudes you might develop to improve your work with adult literacy students. As an adult educator, an understanding of adult learner characteristics is one of the essential foundations for fostering student success and achievement. Based on this understanding, you will find there are skills, techniques, and characteristics you will want to develop to support adult literacy learners effectively.
Initial Self-assessment:
Before you begin, we’d like to give you the opportunity to review what you already know about this topic using a pre-survey. On the survey, we ask you to take a moment to rate yourself on your comfort level and familiarity with the topics presented in this module. [There is also a pre-survey for the entire course, Basics of Adult Literacy Education. If you wish to take the overall course pre-survey, click here.]
Clicking on the link below will open a text document in a separate browser window.
You may print the pre-survey and write your answers, or type your answers directly into the electronic document. If you choose to type directly into the document, be sure to print and save your work and include the work in your records when you have completed the survey.
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Setting Goals for Your Learning:
All learning is more effective when it is focused – guided by specific goals the learner sets.
Take a moment to think over your responses to this self-assessment.
Based on your review, what issues or topics stand out for you? What would you like to accomplish upon completing this module?
| Click the + sign in the box to the right to see some examples of goals you might set for this module. | [?] |
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I've retired from teaching 6th grade - I've never taught adults before. I'm uncomfortable - I don't want to insult them. What do I need to do to make them, and myself, more comfortable?
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I've been working with adult learners for a while, but I never had any formal training. I think I know what they are like and what they need from me, but I'd like to review the material and see if I've missed anything and to see if my understanding is correct.
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I want to hear other instructors' ideas for meeting the complex and challenging needs of adult students. I am feeling frustrated and hope to be refreshed with new insights.
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On your worksheet, state your goals for this module – The Adult Learner. You will be asked to refer back to these goals when you have finished with the module. |
Click "Next" below or a specific topic on the outline to the left to continue.
