Over the past thirty years, education reform has transformed higher education in Ireland by making it more accessible for the general public. During this time, the needs of adult students have also dramatically changed. In order to remain relevant, institutes offering adult education in Ireland have been forced to adapt in order to become more flexible to cater for the needs of their students.

Educational institutions that offer flexible part-time courses provide adults who want to further their education with real opportunities for increased choice, convenience and personalisation when it comes to their studies. This allows the learner to choose when, where and how learning occurs. Flexible learning also recognises that different students have different learning preferences and requirements based on their unique circumstances.

Why do adults in Ireland choose Further Education?:

There are many reasons why more adults are choosing to further their education by signing up for flexible part time courses at various educational institutes throughout Ireland. Some have turned to adult learning as a way to upskill and stand out in a competitive job market after losing their job due to the current economic climate. Other students might still have their jobs but want to gain additional skills in order to become more valuable to their organisation. In other cases students may still have their jobs but are unhappy in their current career. In this situation, adult education provides them with the ability to acquire new skills to improve their lives without losing their monthly income.

If you are an adult who is interested in furthering your education, here is a bit of advice to help you on your way:

Make sure you have enough time to dedicate to your studies:
Whether you are a stay-at-home mum or have a full-time job, you’ll be able to find a variety of part-time and full-time courses suited to your lifestyle.

Do your research:
Start by searching the web to find institutions in your area that offer the courses that interest you.

See education as an investment:
Most courses are not free but the price of admission is well worth it if a course can help you further your career or break into a new industry or profession..

There has never been a greater need for adult education and the availability of flexible learning has been a priority for policy makers and those involved in. If adult education can make an important difference to Ireland as a whole, it can certainly make a positive impact on your own lifestyle too.

Adult Education Courses from http://www.BlueBrick.ie. BlueBrick lists courses from 14 Institutes of Technology in Ireland. Click the Brick

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Get Financial Help. Adults that return to college are much more likely than their traditional counterparts to do well in their classes. It is for this reason that so many scholarships and government grant programs exist to help people further their education. Adults have clear career goals, homes, and families to motivate them to do well in their classes, so they are a rewarding group for many organizations to support. Many employers even offer to reimburse employees for continuing education. Spend some time searching online for scholarships and grants, and ask your employer if they will subsidize your education. School is expensive, but scholarships and special programs can relieve some of the pressure of going back to school.

Keep a strict schedule. As an adult, you have many more demands on your time than a traditional college student. Most adult students are expected to keep up with their work schedules, family and social lives, and their home responsibilities on top of their educational pursuits. With all of these responsibilities, it is extremely important that you come up with a schedule to help you survive. Set aside blocks of time for study and blocks of time to spend with your family. Ask your family to respect your study time, and respect the time you designate as family time by spending it with your family.

Get your sleep. If you have children, you know all about sleep deprivation. When you miss out on sleep, crucial things can escape your notice, you can’t focus well, and you are cranky to boot. We’ve all seen the public service ads comparing drowsy driving to drunk driving. Would you take an important exam drunk? If you don’t get your sleep you can’t learn well and you won’t be able to remember what you’ve learned when it matters.

Delegate and learn to say no. When you add new responsibilities to your schedule, you will have to sacrifice some control in other aspects of your life. Learning to delegate and cut back will help you deal with the extra responsibilities. If you have children, you might want to teach them how to pack their own lunches, or if you have a large yard, consider hiring someone to cut your grass every week. Anything you can do to make it easier to focus on school will be an investment in your future.

Create a support group. You are not the only adult who has ever decided to go back to school. Find friends in your classes or online who are in your situation and commiserate together. You can even form study groups that will coincide with your busy work schedules and family lives.

Find out if your school offers programs specifically for adults. Often times, things like child care, career counseling, and tech courses are available to help adult students succeed in their schooling. Take advantage of all of the available programs you find.

The decision to return to school is life-changing, but dealing with a class schedule is a temporary inconvenience on your path to success. Keep your goals in mind as you face your challenges and get your family’s support. Furthering your education is not easy, but it’s definitely worth it.

Courtney Buell is a writer at Professional Marketing International. Prior to joining PMI, Courtney obtained a bachelors degree in Humanities and wrote for various print and online publications in Salt Lake City.

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Tell me, I may listen.

Teach me, I may remember.

Involve me, I will do it.

If we want adults to feel involved so that learning will occur, there are six training design steps that will achieve the necessary level of involvement and set them up for success:

1. Treat them with respect.

Many adults feel vulnerable in a classroom, due to: past unsuccessful learning experiences, concern about appearing foolish in front of others, or discomfort with the unfamiliar role of student.

§ Validate and address their concerns.

§ Value their knowledge and experience.

§ Dignify all learning styles.

§ Use a variety of learning activities and training aids to meet the needs of different learning styles.

Implementation Tips: Ask them questions rather than telling them answers they may already have. Also keep in mind that different learning styles respond better to different learning activities. For example, print learners learn best by reading or writing, while interactive learners learn best through discussion.

2. Make the content meaningful.

Adults tend to learn what they consider of benefit and importance.

§ Tailor the content to meet their needs.

§ Help them discover how the content will benefit them.

§ Teach practical, immediately applicable skills.

Implementation Tips: Build in a benefits question or activity early in the lesson that enables them to consider and articulate why the learning is important to them. This will increase the likelihood of their “buy-in” to the training. Keep the content and learning activities focused on real life application rather than theory.

3. Build on what they already know.

Adult learning and retention is increased when new ideas are grounded on information or skills they already possess.

§ Draw on their previous learning and experience.

§ Explain concepts with familiar examples.

§ Facilitate positive transfer and disconnect negative transfer.

Implementation Tips: Draw on any previous learning or experience that will provide a firm foundation for the new learning (positive transfer). For example, when teaching a new policy, reminding them that they received strong support during a previous policy change will make them more receptive now. However, if their previous experience with policy changes was negative (negative transfer), then show how this new change will be handled differently and more constructively.

4. Follow the building blocks of learning.

Most adults feel more comfortable in a learning situation when they have the pre-requisite knowledge and skills.

§ Teach to the desired level of learning.

§ Use learning activities appropriate for the learning levels.

§ Always check for understanding.

Implementation Tips: Bloom’s Taxonomy identifies six progressive learning levels: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, evaluation and creation. Certain learning activities are more appropriate at different learning levels. For example, lecture only achieves knowledge. In order to check for comprehension, there are a number of learning activities that can be used, including: discussion, a questionnaire, pop ups, or a case study, etc.

5. Make it easy to learn.

The adult brain is better at absorbing smaller amounts of information at one time.

§ Break complex concepts and skills into smaller segments.

§ Move from simple to complex.

§ Teach only a few things at a time during a learning segment.

Implementation Tips: Brain studies show that adults can learn 4-5 familiar and meaningful items at a time, but only 2-3 new items at a time if they are completely unfamiliar and meaningless. Given this fact, when teaching ten steps in a procedure, teach only 2-3 or 4-5 steps at a time.

6. Let them apply what they’ve learned.

Once adults have successfully used new skills in the classroom, they are more likely to use them outside the classroom.

§ Build their confidence and competence through appropriate practice.

§ Have them apply new skills to solve job-related problems.

§ Give them an opportunity to plan how they will implement their new learning.

Implementation Tips: Begin practice with a new skill by using a simulation and directed large group discussion facilitated by the trainer. Then have them practice the new skill in a different simulation within a small group, with assistance by the trainer when needed. Finally, have them independently practice applying the new skill to their own job-related problem. This should help them feel more confident about their competence, and thereby increase the likelihood that they will continue to use the new skill when they return to their jobs.

These six simple but powerful training design steps will ensure that adult learners will be engaged and involved in the learning process. Their involvement will increase the probability that real learning will occur and will be applied once the workshop is over.

Deborah Spring Laurel has been a trainer and a consultant in the areas of workplace learning and performance improvement for over thirty years. She has twenty years of experience as the President of Laurel and Associates, Ltd,, an international human resource development training and consulting firm that specializes in enhancing interpersonal dynamics within organizations. She has designed and delivered hundreds of different skill-building participant-based and accelerated learning workshops on various topics, all of which have been tailored to meet her clients’ needs.

Deborah taught management and supervisory topics for the Executive Management Institute and the Small Business Development Center in the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin- Madison for over thirty years. From 1998-2002, she consulted with J.J. Strossmeyer University in Osijek, Croatia to design the first Eastern European participant-based Masters Degree program in Entrepreneurship.

For a white paper on Learning Activities for Different Learning Levels, see her website. For information about her workshops and consulting services, please visit her website at http://www.laurelandassociates.com or contact Deborah directly at (608) 255-2010 or dlaurel@laurelandassociates.com.

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Adult Learner Cognitive Characteristics

Generally speaking, most adult learners share the following characteristics:

- Tend to be self-directed and want control over their own learning

- Have self-imposed cognitive barriers due to years of academic failure and lack self-confidence

- Can be resistant to new ideas or approaches-are less open-minded than youth

- Under-estimate their ability to learn

- Desire pragmatic and relevant instruction that they perceive as valuable

- Are intrinsically motivated – Interpret new learning in the context of old learning

- Learn at a slower pace than that of youth

- Are very concerned about the effective use of their time Adult Learner Social Characteristics Generally speaking, most adult learners share the following characteristics:

- Can be resistant to group work

- See teachers as peer partners in the learning process

- Demand teacher availability and easy access

- Want flexibility and see learning as secondary to other pre-occupations in their lives Adult Learner Instructional Strategies

Adult learners need to be actively included in their own evaluation of assessment data. Students set personal goals and use learning activities that directly address assessment deficits and demonstrate incremental progress toward their short-term and long-term goals. Reading workshops can easily be individualized to allow adult learners to work at their own pace.

A few talking points may be helpful to bolster the confidence of adult learners and to provide the motivation needed for success:

- “Unfortunately, some of your past reading instruction was poor; it’s not your fault that you have some skills to work on.” a.k.a. “blame someone else”

- “You can learn in this class. If you come to class willing to try, you will significantly improve your reading, I promise.” I will be flexible and work around your schedule.

- “I know you have tried before, but this time is different.”

- “You will be able to chart your own progress and see what you are learning in this class.”

- “Don’t give up. Adult learners can learn. Although they sometimes learn a bit more slowly than children, they learn at a deeper and more memorable level. The pay-off will be huge for you when you complete this class.”

Mark Pennington is an educational author, presenter, reading specialist, and middle school teacher. Mark is committed to differentiated instruction for the diverse needs of today’s remedial reading students. Visit Mark’s website at http://www.penningtonpublishing.com to check out his free adult learners teacher resources and books: Teaching Reading Strategies, Teaching Essay Strategies, Teaching Grammar and Mechanics, and Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary.

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First, let me explain why most adults need to either go to college or get the online education.

One: Trying to advance in your career.

Two: Seeking a raise.

Three: Enjoy learning and acquiring new skills.

These are the most common reasons that motivate adults to further their education. Even if you don’t fall under one of these three categories you may still have your own personal reason for wanting to get more education. So what choice should you make about how you get that education?

If you like to learn in a college environment then you may want to choose this option then. However, for those of you who don’t like this environment and prefer to learn on your own, then you will want to choose the online adult education class. The choice is really up to you and how you learn better.

There are many benefits to getting your education online. These include but are not limited to lower costs, you don’t have to travel and you will have access anytime you need it. These are just a few of the benefits but they are important for the adult learner to know. When you are an adult who has to further your education you are probably going to have to juggle your studies along with a full time job. Getting an online education will definitely make that much easier for you.

Here are the characteristics that you must have if you are going to be taking an online adult education class.

Firstly, you need to have a computer and internet, and know how to use it. Otherwise you will end up struggling with your assignments.

Secondly, you will need to be able to learn through written words because you won’t have an instructor to help you most of the time.

Thirdly, you will also need to be a self motivating person. No one will be around to tell you what needs to be done or when it needs to be done. This will totally depend on you.

When you choose an online adult education class you will have to be able to work in solitude. You also won’t have to worry about having to speak in a classroom full of people you don’t know. Another advantage is that you will have more time to think over your answers before sending in your written answers. So these may all be really good reasons for you to choose online education if you have the characteristics to make it work for you. Learn more about adult education classes at www.eighttips.com.

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- Asia
- Middle East
- Europe
- Latin America

Is it Too Late?

Students all over the world may be studying English as a second language – whether it is a requirement or not, but what about adults? It is common knowledge that it is much easier to learn a language when one is very young and still developing early language skills. In fact, the very best time to pick up any language is actually before five years of age. Does this mean that it is virtually impossible for anyone over the age of 5 (or 10 for that matter) to learn a new language such as English? The answer is very simple – no. It may be a bit more difficult and unnatural for an adult to learn English, but it is definitely not too late. It may require more work, studying and practicing for an adult to truly learn English, but it is by no means impossible.

Factors in Learning

There are many different factors that will influence the level of ease or difficulty each individual will experience when learning English as an adult. Some of these include age, disposition, behavioral attitudes, native language, frequency of practice, etc. Generally speaking, the greater the amount of time that is spent on studying and practicing English, the quicker and more thoroughly the language will be learned. This is true of any foreign language that is studied – not only by adults, but also by youth and children.

Adults Learning English in the U.S.

There are a great number of immigrants, visitors and students in the United States who wish to learn to speak, read and write English. Below are some things that are known about the adult English language student population.

- Native Tongue

The majority of individuals who speak a language other than English at home speak Spanish (60%). The second most prevalent language is Chinese. The remaining eight of the top 10 languages spoken are (in descending order) French, German, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Italian, Korean, and Polish (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003).

- Level of Education

Adult English learners have a wide variety of educational backgrounds, ranging from no education at all to advanced degrees.

- Ability to Speak English

The English speaking ability of adults learning English will typically range from low beginning, with means the individual has limited opportunities to use English outside of class, to high advanced (near native proficiency). Most English language learners enrolled in adult education programs for English are in beginning literacy or beginning ESL classes.

Conclusion

With so many adult students of the English language (in the United States and all over the world) it is easy to see that learning English as an adult is definitely possible. It is very encouraging to see that no matter what age or station in life one is in, it is never too late to learn even a complicated language such as English.

Improve your English speaking and pronunciation skills with our online English courses. Online English school is dedicated to helping students achieve their English language goals.

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Getting math help from this web actually is very interesting moment. Yet, before I have decided to get the help I tried to solve those math problems by myself then I try to consult to TutorVista whether my answers is already true or not. Dealing with algebra and fractions is always fun time for me. Moreover, the best solutions which are proposed by TutorVista for those math problems can be easily understood. Fraction and algebra help is ready to gives the detail you need. There is free algebra help as well. You are also able to get your homework help by this web. So, I can say that this web is everything for my development of my math capability.

Learning online is the popular choice for those that have been out of the learning field for some time. You can spend time readjusting to learning with an online degree course and you can meet the challenges of your course without wasting your time and without embarrassment. Getting an adult education degree online is a fantastic way to return your mind to study mode and to get yourself together in terms of having an educational future; there is no time that is too late for entering into adult educational studies and the internet has made this a much easier task.

Challenging Yourself

Some adults merely take an adult education degree online to challenge themselves. There can be nothing more rewarding for an intellectual than challenging one’s brain at a later age to discover that it is still up to the problems and challenges of a post-secondary level educational program. It is a great ego boost to complete adult education in an online degree program form. Taking part in these types of programs has become more and more popular among people of all ages and types. Challenging yourself to learn can be very rewarding, indeed.

With adult education degree online programs, you have the option of picking from a wide variety of program types that will challenge you to work hard at what it is you plan to do. You can develop new study habits as you learn with the technological advances of completing a course online. You never know what great knowledge you can pour into your brain, too, with an adult education degree online. Getting started is only a matter of looking into what there is for you, so get started on your future today.

Gerri Stone publishes information and resources to help you find the online course that will work for you at Get Your Degree Online

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But the truth is, deciding to attend adult education classes can be a big step forward in your life, even though it may not seem that way at first glance. Continuing or completing your education as an adult is richly rewarding, and we’ll give you the satisfaction of having achieved something important in your life — a type of milestone.

One common reservation about going back to school is finding the time in your busy life for study. But with a little commitment and preparation, all of us can find creative ways to free up time during the week. Perhaps you will need to cut back on your extracurricular activities, or delegate certain responsibilities to your spouse for a period of time. But as someone once said, anything worth achieving requires sacrifice.

If you’re interested in continuing your education, but nervous about the concept of going back to school, there’s good news: it is now possible to attend online adult education courses, bypassing the traditional classroom altogether. Online learning also is easier to work into your schedule for several reasons.

You see, unlike traditional classroom education, online learning is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are normally no fixed times when you must “attend” classes; instead, you are presented with a series of tasks, which you can then complete on your own time frame.

Even those of us with hectic job and family schedules can find a few minutes here and there to study online. And the more you get into it, the more you will find creative ways to make the most of the time you do have available during the week. Online education conforms to your specific situation — not the other way around, and is without a doubt the best way to go back to school as an adult.

But besides being able to work your studies around your schedule, online education saves you time and money in other ways. For example, you never have to rush home after work, just to grab a quick bite to eat and then rush back out the door to drive across town for a class. This saves you gas money, a great deal of stress, and makes the most of the free time you have, so that you can continue to have a life while you study.

And Internet educational resources have developed to the point where you can study for a wide range of adult education degrees online. Many people also find this way of studying easier, because classes are normally presented in video format, which means that you can watch them over and over again as many times as you like until the information “sinks in.”

If you have been considering adult education, but were nervous at the prospect of going back to school, online adult education could be a perfect solution for you to advance in your career and life.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on online learning and a distance learning college at http://www.ultimateeducationguide.com

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And also a little scary! When you were in college or high school, fads and fashions were much different. Kids dressed differently and spoke differently. When you were in school no one was texting, much less Twittering. The music was different and so were the television shows. You may have the feeling that setting foot on a college campus will be like going to a foreign country, or that there will be culture shock and you’ll feel like an old fossil.

You Are Not Alone

Yes, it’s true that kids today have their own style and attitude. But here’s the inside scoop: the fact is that you will not be the only adult in class. Over the past ten years there has been an explosion of adults returning to college. Adults are enrolled in every conceivable way: as full-time and part-time students, on campus, off-campus, and in growing numbers through online or distance learning. This year more than six million adults will attend college in the United States.

Who Are Adult Learners?

o The average age of the college student continues to rise. Data from the recent Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) shows that students at U.S. institutions of higher education cover nearly every over-18 age group.

o Adult students (also called re-entry students) range in age from 25 to 70 or even higher.

o Adult learners are often female, but the numbers of men returning to college are climbing as they seek to enhance their professional skills.

o Some adult learners went to work right after they graduated from high school, or they started college and then left school because of financial, family, or other reasons. Others earned a certificate or undergraduate degree and now want to earn a higher degree such as a master’s degree or doctorate.

o Department of Education figures indicate that 13 percent of students who are now enrolled in college are single parents, an increase from 7.6 percent in 1993.

o An increasing number of adult students are retirees, and many have spent time raising a family, in the workforce, or in the military, and want to go back to fulfill lifelong dreams or advance their career potential.

The reasons for the growing numbers of adult learners or re-entries are numerous. These include a desire to pursue a new career path; changing demands in the workforce; employer requirements to secure licensure or certification; the need to update existing job skills or secure new ones; or simply a desire to engage in learning.

For many adult learners, financial aid and flexible schedules are major considerations. Fortunately, the U.S. government provides a wide range of financial aid programs to qualified moms and dads who want to return to school. With family and career responsibilities to juggle, adults need weekend and evening classes and the option to learn online. The best way to choose a college or program is to log onto a reputable directory website such as www.Education-For-Careers.com, where you can find career schools that fit your expectations, compare what they have to offer, and make the best choice.

So fear not! Go boldly back to college-and you will find that you have plenty of company.

Thinking about training for a new career? To make the best decision, you need the right information. Log onto http://www.Education-For-Careers.com and compare colleges. Get information about career training programs, degrees, online education, financial aid opportunities, job placement services, and much more.

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