TAX-AIDE Adult Learners Betty Shaw, Member NTTC NTTC 20131

TAX-AIDE Objective ● To review characteristics and attitudes of the Adult Learner ● To explore ways to create a Learning Environment for the Adult Learner NTTC 20132

TAX-AIDE Environments ● Traditional Class Setting ● Distance Learning ● Self Study ● Link & Learn NTTC 20133

TAX-AIDE Adult Learning NTTC 20134

TAX-AIDE Adult Learning Pub 4491 Explain tax law Source documents TaxWise screen shots Comprehensive problem with step-by-step review In TaxWise More problems, more help NTTC 20135

TAX-AIDE Characteristics of Adults as Learners as Compared With Youth Taken from Gary Straquadine, UTU

TAX-AIDE Adult versus Youth Learners 1. Adults are older They have lived longer and have a different perspective on life. They no longer see life through rose-colored glasses, but as a set of realities. NTTC 20137

TAX-AIDE Adult versus Youth Learners 2. Adults have had more experience They have insights and see relationship not discerned by children. They have a sense of what is likely to work and what is not – sort of accumulated wisdom. NTTC 20138

TAX-AIDE Adult versus Youth Learners 3. Adults have needs which are more concrete and immediate than those of children They are impatient with long discourses on theory and like to see theory applied to practical problems. NTTC 20139

TAX-AIDE Adult versus Youth Learners 4. Adults are used to being treated as mature persons and resent having teachers talk down to them. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Adult versus Youth Learners 5. A corollary of 4 is that adults enjoy having their talents and information made use of in a teaching situation. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Adult versus Youth Learners 6. Adult groups are likely to be more heterogeneous than youth groups. Differences increase with age and mobility. Adults come from a wider variety of backgrounds and intelligence levels than youth. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Adult versus Youth Learners 7. Adults can learn as well as youth; although they may not perform some tasks as rapidly as youth. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Adults Learn as Well as Young People ● People over the age of 40 have an advantage, when it comes to learning material which calls for good judgment or related to experience. ● Adults can do “fast memorizing” more efficiently than young children; however, youngsters retain the fact longer. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Adults Learn as Well as Young People ● The reasons adults may appear to learn not as well is based on reaction time, not intelligence. If time is not a factor, there is no difference in ability to learn. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Does aging have an effect on adult learning? NTTC Click here to play the “I Want to be a Millionaire” (oops wrong game) “Adult Education and Aging Game”

NTTC A. Decreases about 1% a year after the age of 30. C. Doesn’t materially change during adulthood D. Starts dropping off significantly after the age of 65. B. Increases about 1% a year until the age of 65. IQ in Adults

TAX-AIDE The Correct Answer is C Contrary to popular opinion, IQ doesn’t decline remarkably with age. NTTC

TAX-AIDE ● A group of 50 year olds were given IQ tests That they had taken 31 years earlier. They made higher scores on every part except math reasoning. (Wechsler found test scores increased until 35 then declined very slowly after that.) NTTC

NTTC A. Peaks around the age of 20. C. Peaks around the age of 40.D. Peaks around the age of 50 B. Peaks around the age of 30. Physical Strength in Adults

TAX-AIDE The Correct Answer is B Physical strength reaches a peak around the age of 30 NTTC

TAX-AIDE ● In England, Galton set up a booth at a National Fair and tested over 7,000 people for physical strength, his research reveals 30 is the peak. ● However, physical strength declines slowly. ● Research at Harvard found physical strength dropped dramatically between 70 and 75. NTTC

NTTC A. In youth. C. In both youth and adults. D. In neither youth or adults B. In adults. There is a relationship between intelligence and speed of learning

TAX-AIDE The correct answer is A ● In youth there is a correlation between intelligence and speed in learning. In adulthood, this is not true. NTTC

NTTC A. Age 15 C. Age 45D. Age 60 B. Age 30 The ability to hear peaks before

TAX-AIDE The Correct Answer is A ● Peak Performance in Hearing Occurs Before Age 15 ● Gradual decline until 65, then more rapid. ● Older people Hear less and Hear slower NTTC

TAX-AIDE Hearing ● As people age: Men lose ability to hear high sounds. Women lose ability to hear low sounds.  This is one of the reasons why women talk more with women and men talk more with men in the older years NTTC

TAX-AIDE Common Sense Practices in the Classroom ● Place seating where people can see everyone’s face ● Make use of small groups ● Teacher should stand still ● Teacher should speak, clearly, distinctly, and loudly NTTC

TAX-AIDE Common Sense Practices in the Classroom ● Use more than one sense while teaching ● Observe faces of students ● Eliminate outside noises ● Ask people to speak out if they can’t hear ● Repeat questions and answers NTTC

NTTC A. Between 13 and 18 C. Between 40 and 55D. After 55 B. Between 18 and 40 The most acute decline in vision occurs

TAX-AIDE The Correct answer is C Vision Continuous gain Gradual decline Sharp decline 55 On Gradual decline NTTC

TAX-AIDE Vision ● Older Eyes Suffer Vision loss in dim light Narrowing field of vision Slow adaptation to dark Cataracts Defective color vision SO…………….. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Common Sense Practices for the Classroom ● Illumination There should be good lighting Participants should not face Direct Light ● Eliminate glare ● Use Large Writing NTTC

TAX-AIDE Media ● Use Sharp Color Contrast ● Enlarged Type or Print ● Avoid Abbreviations NTTC

TAX-AIDE Adult Learner Characteristics ● Adults do not want to spend time going over what they already know. ● Adults must be able to relate new information to what they already know. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Adult Learner Characteristics ● Adults will remember something if it is important to them Is presented in a memorable way and Is repeated, repeated, repeated. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Adult Learner Characteristics ● Adults will maintain interest if tasks are challenging but not overwhelming. ● Adults learn best when they have immediate feedback on the task NTTC

TAX-AIDE Getting Started: ● Why am I here? ● Will I just be listening? ● Will the speaker be organized? ● Where is the agenda? ● Will this time of value to me? ● Where are the restrooms? NTTC

TAX-AIDE Tips For Presentation: ● Know your audience ● Value your audience ● Engage your audience ● Anticipate the needs of your audience ● Respect your audience ● Listen to your audience ● Engage your audience NTTC

TAX-AIDE Before Class: ● Have a class roster and know who is in the room. ● Check the lighting and room temperature. ● Smile and Greet participants as they arrive. ● Check to see if everyone has the necessary tools – text, paper, writing instrument. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Before Class: ● Be sure you have telephone numbers for everyone in case class time needs to be changed. ● Be sure everyone can see – be it speaker, screen, whatever. ● Seat those who appear to have hearing or vision problems where they are comfortable. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Leading: ● Give the appearance of being organized ● Be enthusiastic about sharing tax information, computer usage, and e- filing. ● Speak clearly and loudly enough, while making eye contact with the audience. NTTC

TAX-AIDE Leading: ● Vary approach – e.g., multimedia screen, computer practice, small groups ● Know your sources of information – bibliographies are helpful. ● Start and end on time. NTTC

TAX-AIDE While Presenting: ● Share agenda, lunch time and breaks ● Have clearly written handouts. ● Provide practical applications and real- life examples ● Relate what you say to the audience's experience. NTTC

TAX-AIDE While Presenting: ● Guide audience members to other sources of information. ● Repeat audience questions – then address answers to the whole audience ● Be prepared with an ending – one that can be used before you are at the end of your presentation! NTTC

TAX-AIDE Adult Learning I am at the end of my presentation. NTTC