Adult Education vs. Typical College Education
How Courses Differ for Adults Taking Continuing Classes
Dec 3, 2008
When an adult decides to further her education there are usually very strong reasons to do so. In many cases the road to advancement at her current job often depends upon obtaining a certain level of educational certification, or she is re-training for a different occupation. In either case adults tend to have a specific goal in mind when attending college.
Most educational institutions will acknowledge that the adult student is more focused than the average college student and often adjusts the curriculum to better accommodate the hectic schedule of the adult learner. This article explains how adult education classes differ from typical college classes to accomplish a streamlined education.
Availability of Adult Education Classes
Adult education classes are usually scheduled at more convenient hours in order to accommodate the work schedules of the typical adult learners. Also, there are more courses made available throughout the entire school year rather than at only certain times. This is true for both on-campus and online courses.
Typical college courses run in blocks of semesters or quarters. The schedule is set for the student with not much room for deviation. Of course, college students do have the option of taking online courses, as well.
Streamlined Curriculum for Adult Students
The normal curriculum of the average college covers months of time and usually contains various classes to insure that the new student obtains a "well rounded" education, no matter what the main field of study might be. This is especially helpful for the student who is not sure what field to enter.
The curriculum for adult classes is usually trimmed of all extraneous prerequisite classes. The curriculum is focused on offering the adult learner exactly what is needed. Many institutions will offer "life credit" for experiences the adult may have encountered, thus allowing her to substitute these for required qualifications within the course of study.
Class Workload for Adult Students
In a normal classroom setting, the student will find that the workload will be spread out over the entire course of the semester or quarter. Time will be allotted by the teacher for the completion of assigned work with a timeframe that can cover weeks or even months.
Because many adult classes have shorter schedules than regular college courses, the student workload is usually far more intense. More information and assignments are crammed into a shorter time period. Adult classes often require the student to cover the same ground as the traditional on-campus courses.
Specialized Classes for Adult Learners
These are classes that are designed specifically for the adult learner who is attempting to re-train in a new field of employment. The classes often target a specific field of learning and offer a special intensified immersion in a single topic or subject. These specialized classes are most often found in trade schools and institutions that train adults in a technologically heavy field, such as auto mechanics, electronic diagnosis, or a field that requires specific training on unique equipment, such as a courtroom recorder.
Student-Instructor Relationships
Classes that are tailored for adult students are heavy on independent studies. These courses require that the student relies on various sources in addition to the classroom instructor. Because many of these adult classes are conducted online, actual contact with the instructor is extremely limited. Most correspondence is conducted via e-mail, where the teacher is more likely to list sources that the student can pursue to answer specific questions.
In a normal college classroom setting, the student has an opportunity to question and consult with the instructor either in the classroom or in a private meeting. The same is true for an adult learner who is taking an on-campus course.
While there are definite differences between traditional full-time classes for new students and those that are designed for the adult student, the fundamentals remain the same. The main fundamental is to deliver a quality education that is catered to the demands of both the educational institution and the needs of the students.
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