The Transition to College of the Adult Learner

1. The Transition to College of the Adult Learner ATP 2007 Fall On-line Workshop Jim Valkenburg, HBPE Delta College

2. Agenda • Broad stroke generalizations • Responsibility • Support • Stress • Non-traditional-Adult Learners • Veterans • Adults with disabilities

3. Responsibility Students will face: • An increased number of choices and decisions • More independent reading and studying • The necessity of setting and reaching their own goals

4. Support Students should understand that there is: • Reduced contact with instructors • Less individual feedback from faculty • More opportunity and responsibility to choose what and how to proceed

5. Stress Students should anticipate: • An increased workload with a faster pace • The need to be more independent • More financial responsibilities and social pressures

6. Stress • Family/Work/School • Finances • Keeping up to speed

7. Stress • Technology

8. Non-Traditional—Returning • After a few years • child rearing, brief stint in job market • Older • Skills sets • Reintroducing learning strategies

9. Non-Traditional—Returning • Channeling motivation

10. Non-Traditional—Returning • Gaining confidence and learning new skills

11. Non-Traditional—Returning • Time Management • Eliminating time as the enemy

12. Non-Traditional—Returning • Socialization

13. Non-Traditional—Returning Developing contacts Study groups Positive relationships Faculty Advisors Career Counselors

14. Non-Traditional—Returning • Reintroducing academic regimen

15. Non-Traditional—Returning • Relearning learning strategies

16. Non-Traditional—Returning • Going to class

17. Non-Traditional—Returning Using textbooks Usually a dramatic difference from how the student was allowed to use a text in high school

18. Non-Traditional—Returning Test taking strategies Just because they’re in college doesn’t not necessarily imply that they use good test taking strategies.

19. Non-Traditional—Returning • Retirees

20. Non-Traditional—Vets • The difference of the vets’ experience • Reserve Status • The need for reacclimating to society • Reacclimating to the school environment

21. Non-Traditional—Vets • What the vet has to offer/what the vet needs to know • Transportal

22. Non-Traditional—Vets • Seeking help on campus

23. Non-Traditional—Vets • Motivation is probably not a problem • Focusing on what is needed to achieve the goal

24. Non-Traditional—Vets • Working in the classroom

25. Non-Traditional—Vets • Independence and Direction

26. Adult Students with Disabilities Special needs, special accommodations Self-advocacy The major difference Getting what they need

27. Adult Students with Disabilities College: ADA & 504 Eligibility for reasonable accommodations is driven by “severity of impact on a major life activity” Documentation of a disability is required (an IEP is NOT sufficient) Eligibility is based on definition of disability, not on diagnosis It is not age restricted (504/ADA cover until death)

28. Adult Students with Disabilities Academic Environment Students should be aware of and prepared for: Instruction is primarily by lecture Reading lengthy assignments Must adapt to the instructor’s style

29. Adult Students with Disabilities Students should realize that: Knowledge Acquisition Effective reading comprehension skills are important Taking good lecture notes is necessary More independent work is required outside of class

30. What Your Campus Can Do Establish a campus wide support network to focus on transitioning that could include: Admissions Advising or Counseling Center Learning Support Center Student Affairs Health Center Residential Life

31. What You Can do, con’t: Offer summer Transition Programs Organize Student Support Groups Encourage peer mentoring Encourage self-sufficiency Increase campus and faculty awareness

32. Transitions • Thank you • Please go to the discussion board and respond to the prompt your will find there about this module.