Working with Adult Learners: How Do THEY Learn? What About the Web 2.0 Learner? Teacher Quality Partnership Cobb County School District and Kennesaw State University Patricia Jackson, CCSD Jim Wright, KSU June 3, 2011

Participant Learning Outcomes The participant will consider the research of how adults learn in the design of instruction for KSU interns. The participant will explore the concept of “generational” learning as it applies both to their own teaching style and that of their adult students. The participant will develop an awareness of how technology has impacted the instruction of students of all ages.

Activating Prior Knowledge What Do You Think? You can use your cell phone to text your answer (Text CODE to )* You can tweet your answer and CODE) Web browser Or you can write your answers on a piece of paper *texting rates apply

Don’t forget: You can copy- paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll. help

Don’t forget: You can copy- paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll. help

Don’t forget: You can copy- paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll. help

Don’t forget: You can copy- paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll. help

The Adult Learner Malcolm Knowles (1973) Malcolm Knowles, Elwood Holton III and Richard Swanson (2005) Adult learners need to know why they need to learn something before learning it. Adult self concept is dependent on a move toward self-direction. Prior experiences of the adult learner provide the background for future learning. Adults become ready to learn when the need to cope with a life situation or learn a new task. Learning is life-centered and is a process of developing more competency. The motivation of adult learners is internal rather than external.

Four Generations in America Today Generations at School: Building an Age-Friendly Learning Community Suzette Lovely and Austin Buffum (2007) What are the traits, hot buttons and tipping points of four generations working in America today? How do these considerations impact how college students of all ages learn? How do these considerations impact how we teach students in our schools and how they learn?

Learning Activity Which Generation are YOU? On the chart paper posted around the room, please go and stand by the chart that reflects your generation or the one that you want to claim : Veterans Born 1922 – 1943 Baby Boomers Born 1944 – 1960 Generation X Born 1960 – 1980 Millennials Born

Model: Station Teaching Teaching Strategy : Cooperative Learning (10 Minutes) As a small group, assign roles and then discuss the following questions as you were a student attending school during that era. Write the responses on the chart paper. What were some of the major historical events? What were some of your favorite pop culture memories (movies, music, fashion, etc.)? Through what methods, did your teachers provide instruction?

Four Generations in America Today Generations at School: Building an Age-Friendly Learning Community Suzette Lovely and Austin Buffum (2007) What are the traits, hot buttons and tipping points of four generations working in America today? How do these considerations impact how college students of all ages learn? How do these considerations impact how we teach students in our schools and how they learn?

Review of Research Chart: Meeting the Needs of a Mixed Crowd Generations at School: Building an Age-Friendly Learning Community, by Suzette Lovely and Austin Buffman (Corwin Press, 2007), p. 64. Reprinted with permission from SAGE Publications, Inc. Article: Tune In: To what a new generation of teachers can do” by Joan Richardson, Tools for Schools, May/June Reprinted with permission from Learning Forward.

Summarizing Strategy: Think, Ink, Pair, Share Using the index cards on your table, please write down three ideas that either affirm your professional practice or support you in thinking about changing your practice based on what you have learned about adult learners today (3 minutes). Find a learning partner and share what you have learned ( 3 minutes).