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Back to Orientation

The First Connection:  The GED Student
page 2

Those simple questions provided us with a basic profile of the average GED student.  Most of our students are:

• 18-24 years old;
• educated at the 10th grade level or higher;
• desiring to further their education;
• of diverse backgrounds; and
• adults who bring with them goals, experiences and a readiness for learning.

How Do We Teach Adults?

Loads of research investigating adults as learners conclude that adults learn differently than children.  If that premise is true, then why do we so often teach them both in the same way?  Children come to school with limited experiences, waiting patiently for their minds to be filled with knowledge.  Adults, on the other hand, come to the learning environment with a great deal of life experiences.  They participate in learning for a number of reasons, not just to "soak up" knowledge.  For this reason, we should view adult learners as a unique group of individuals who have both similarities and differences. 

The term andragogy was used by Malcolm S. Knowles (b. 1913-d. 1997) to distinguish between how we teach children (pedagogy) and how we teach adults (andragogy).  Andragogy is simply just another way to say “the teaching and learning of adults.” 

Download this file for a brief overview of "andragogy."

How Do I Learn? — How Do My Students Learn?

Every student has his/her own learning preference or learning style. Students will have greater success if they have an opportunity to learn new material in a style that is most comfortable to them. Many GED programs focus on providing material in only one learning style - visual - through print-based material. For students who are auditory or kinesthetic, this can present a real challenge and hinder their ability to succeed.

Click on the video clip to see how students put their bodies into things and learn kinesthetically. In this clip, students were asked to use their arms to demonstrate four different angles - straight (180°), Obtuse (greater than 90° but less than 180°), right (90°), and acute (less than 90°).

Kinesthetic Learning

But there are other ways to use a student's learning style as well. Click on the following video clip to see how students can use a simple manipulative to further learn more about angles.

Kinesthetic Learning 2

Just like kinesthetic learners enjoy hands-on activities, auditory learners may also need a different way of learning. Many times, auditory learners appreciate an opportunity to use head phones and listen to music while working. While this might drive you crazy - it actually helps the learner focus. Consider allowing headphones in the classroom. Just make sure that students don't have noise "leaking" out of the headphones that can disturb other students.

I AM!

Each person learns differently.  In order to be most effective with your students and fellow staff members, it is important that you are aware of your own learning style.

Take the following learning styles assessment and document your primary learning style. 
 

Click here for the Inventory

For information on learning styles and modalities, click through to the next page.

This program was developed by Dr. Lucy M. Guglielmino, Florida Atlantic University, through an Adult Education State Leadership Grant from the Florida Department of Education, Division of Workforce Development.  Content Developed by Susan Pittman and Bonnie Vondracek. Web development by Dr. Debra L. Hargrove. Videography by Steve Foley, Foley Video Productions.

Disclaimer:  While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this web-based training component, it is not an official publication of the Florida Department of Education.