Through this tutor training, you will: - be able to articulate the characteristics of an adult learner - have the ability to differentiate a tutoring session for a traditional vs. non-traditional student and - be able to provide motivation for adult learners

1. Adult Learners
L E A R N I N G ST Y L E S A N D M OT I VAT I O N
U NIVE RSITY OF CE NTRA L FLORIDA
STUDENT ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER
PEER TUTOR TRAINING
C R E AT E D B Y :
N ATA S H A F O R D
CHELSEA SHOBEN
C AT H E R I N E S I E W

2. Training Objectives
After this training, tutors will….
 Be
able to articulate the characteristics of an adult
learner
 Have the ability to differentiate a tutoring session
for a traditional vs. non-traditional student.
 Be able to provide motivation for adult learners.

3. Prior to this training…
What are your preconceived notions
of Adult Learners?
B E F O R E Y O U G O T H R O U G H T H I S P O W E R P O I N T,
W R I T E O U T Y O U R T H O U G H T S I N T H E S PA C E
P R O V I D E D O N Y O U R H A N D O U T.
A F T E R YO U CO M P L E T E T H E T R A I N I N G , YO U W I L L
R E F L E C T U P O N W H AT N E W I N F O R M AT I O N Y O U
H AV E G A I N E D .
U S E YO U R H A N D O U T TO FO L LOW A LO N G W I T H A N Y
R E D T E X T Y O U S E E I N T H I S P O W E R P O I N T.

4. Some Characteristics of Adult Learners
(may be just one characteristic or several of these)
 24 years + or a veteran
 Has a spouse and/or
children
 May attend school on a
part-time basis
 Financially
independent of parents
 Took a break from
school for work or to
stay at home
Watch this video to see a
clearer view of an adult
learner.
Have you had any adult
learners in your tutoring
sessions?
If so, what have you
noticed they do differently
from traditional students?

5. Adult Learning Theories
In the following slides we will be focusing on the ABCs of
Adult Learning Theory (three different theories of adult
learners):
Androgogy
Behaviorism
Constructivism
Additionally, we will look at how we can utilize these
theories to better guide our tutoring to meet the needs
of all of our students.

6. Adult Learner Theories - Andragogy
 Watch this video segment
about Andragogy:
 Andragogy Learning
Theory contains 6 parts:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Need to know why they
should learn
Experience
Responsible
Relevance
Problem-Oriented
Motivation
How can you incorporate
each of these learning
strategies into your
tutoring session to best
support your adult
learners?
This could be through
something you already do
or something you’ve
learned through training
which you can utilize.

7. Adult Learner Theories- Behaviorism
 Watch this video segment
about Behaviorism:
 Note the details relating
to Positive Reinforcement
of Appropriate vs.
Inappropriate Behaviors:


“Great job! That is the
correct answer”
Tutee didn’t study for exam
– “That’s okay! I usually
don’t study until the night
before anyway.”
Think of two scenarios
(from your experience or
made up for this exercise)
where one of your tutees
received positive
reinforcement from you.
 What did the tutee do or
say?
 How did you give positive
reinforcement?
 What positive
reinforcement are your
students most receptive to?

8. Adult Learner Theories - Constructivism
 Watch this video segment
about Constructivism:
 Note the details relating to
building up knowledge:


What do you already know?
How is this building on what
you’ve already learned?
Think of a concept in the
course you tutor that
builds upon material
learned earlier in the
course…
 How would you tie this topic
back to previous content?
 If that isn’t simply done, how
can you tie it to the students’
life experience or prior
knowledge?
 How would this help you to
accomplish any of the 6
strategies outlined in
andragogy learning theory?

9. From the Learner’s Perspective
 What is it like to be the non-traditional student
working to learn in a group of “youngsters”?
 Find out here.

10. Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Adult Learners
 In your Storybird book, you will write a story
about a tutoring session in which the tutor (you!)
adapts their session to the needs of an adult
learner in their group.
 Use your story to support your understanding of
the adult learning theories (or one in particular)
that we discussed throughout this PowerPoint.
 Follow the instructions on the next slide to create
your digital Storybird book.

11. Storybird Adult Learners Assignment
Step 1:
To complete the assignment, create an account on Storybird.
Step 2:
Read through the story "Stranded as an Adult Learner“.
Step 3:
Create your own story. Choose from any of the illustrations and add your own text to your story.
Once you are done, press the Menu in the bottom left corner and press "Publish." Make sure
you have a Cover, Title, and have selected "Adult Learners" as your Assignment.
Once you publish your story, your assignment will be complete.

12. Training Completion
Once you have completed the Follow-Along handout and
handed it in to your supervisor as well as submitted your
Storybird book online, you have finished the training.