The common challenges for Adult Learners are lack of time, finances, mindset, family and work obligations, low academic confidence, and motivation.
This article discusses common challenges adult learners face and how to overcome them to succeed in college.
What Are The Common Challenges For Adult Learners?
The common challenges for Adult Learners are time constraints, family and work obligations, lack of finances, mindset and past educational experiences, low confidence in academic ability, and motivation.
Each challenge is described below.
- Time Constraints: Finding time for studying and learning in college could be challenging for adult learners with several responsibilities, such as work, family, and personal.
- Family and Work Obligations: Many adult learners have wives, kids, and other family members in their lives. They need to fulfill their obligations to their family and work to earn money and provide for their family. Finding the balance between family, work, and college could be challenging for them.
- Financial Barriers: Adult learners have to manage finances for their families and college courses. Since they can be the only earning member in their family, it becomes tedious for them to manage every expense.
- Mindset: The mindset of adult learners is affected due to past negative experiences while they were studying in college, such as failing in a difficult subject, the death of a parent, and being forced to work and earn a living for the family. These experiences can make it difficult for adult learners to pursue their studies again.
- Low Confidence in Academic Ability: Adult learners can have low confidence in their academic ability and doubt their capability of completing their studies.
- Motivation and Self-confidence: Adult learners can lose motivation and self-confidence due to all the challenges they are regularly facing.
Tutoring services for adults provide personalized academic support, tailored learning experiences, and targeted guidance to assist in achieving educational goals and enhancing subject comprehension outside traditional classroom settings.
How To Tackle Common Challenges Faced By Adult Learners
To tackle common challenges faced by adult learners, consider the following tips.
- Addressing Time Constraints: Create a flexible study schedule by prioritizing learning and setting a certain amount of time in a week for studying college courses. Consistent short and focused study sessions are effective for learning.
- Balancing Family and Work Obligations: Choose college courses that are flexible in timing, such as online courses or modules that you can access at your convenience. You can watch online course recordings after children go to bed while eating food and in breaks during work.
- Overcoming Financial Barriers: Apply for scholarships, financial aid, and employer-sponsored training. Ask your employer for financial help. He may help if the course is related to your job.
- Correcting Your Mindset: Change your perception of learning by seeing it as a positive experience that can lead to professional growth. Find and join adult learners’ support groups or communities for encouragement.
- Boosting Academic Confidence: Begin with courses that you have passion for and build confidence by learning and succeeding in them. Do not compare your learning pace with others, and embrace your learning ability.
- Maintaining Motivation: Define and set short-term and clear goals to motivate yourself. Focus and work on them until you achieve them. Celebrate every positive achievement.
Balancing life and work while pursuing education as an adult involves meticulous time management, setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and nurturing self-care practices to maintain equilibrium between academic commitments, career responsibilities, and personal life.
Studying while working requires effective time management, setting clear priorities, and creating a well-structured schedule that accommodates both work and study hours. Strategies like breaking down study material into manageable chunks, utilizing breaks for focused study, and leveraging online resources or flexible study programs can help maximize productivity during limited study periods while balancing work commitments. Additionally, effective communication with employers about academic pursuits and seeking support from colleagues or supervisors can also aid in managing both work and study demands effectively.
Managing stress for adult students involves various strategies such as effective time management, setting realistic goals, practicing self-care, maintaining a healthy work-life-study balance, seeking social support, and utilizing relaxation techniques like mindfulness or exercise. Establishing boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and recognizing the importance of breaks and self-care are crucial aspects of managing stress while juggling multiple responsibilities as an adult student. Additionally, seeking guidance from counselors or mentors can provide valuable support in navigating academic stressors.
Final Words
Every adult learner faces various challenges in their journey, including lack of money, time, family and work responsibilities, lack of motivation, low self-confidence, and a negative mindset. These challenges can be overcome by studying with proper planning and mindset.
Family support is crucial for adult students as it provides emotional encouragement, helps manage responsibilities, offers understanding during challenging times, and creates a conducive environment for studying. It can significantly impact their ability to balance multiple commitments and can serve as a pillar of support, positively influencing their motivation, confidence, and overall success in their academic pursuits.
Older college students often bring rich life experiences, diverse perspectives, and a deeper sense of commitment to their studies. They tend to exhibit strong motivation, focus, and a clearer understanding of their academic and career goals. Their maturity and life experiences can contribute to a more engaged and enriching classroom environment, fostering meaningful discussions and offering unique insights to younger peers. Additionally, older students often possess well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills, enhancing their overall academic performance and contributing positively to the learning community.
References:
- Stevens, E. (2023, July 20). The Challenges Faced by Adult Learners | CareerFoundry. CareerFoundry. https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/career-change/the-challenges-of-being-an-adult-learner-and-how-to-overcome-them/
- Trest, J. (2023, April 24). Common Barriers for Adult Learners and How to Overcome Them. Inspired eLearning. https://inspiredelearning.com/blog/barriers-to-adult-learning/
