Teaching Adult Learners (Self-Guided)

Lesson 1

Keys to Success in Your Teaching Career

A great classroom starts with a great teacher—and that's you! This lesson introduces how you can grow in your job as an adult educator by enhancing your professionalism and managing your time effectively. In addition, you will learn how to boost your confidence and establish your authority in the classroom.

Creating a Positive Learning Environment

Adult students are different than kids and understanding those differences can help you reach and teach them. This lesson explores what makes adult learners tick and how you can best meet their needs. In addition, you will learn about preparing for that big first day by getting your paperwork in order.

Understanding Learning Styles

Jill loves testing the rules. Germaine is a shy bookworm. Claire is an artist. All of these adults have different learning styles and intelligences. This lesson explores two different models of learning styles and introduces eight intelligences you will want to factor into your lesson plans.

Managing, Supervising, and Counseling Your Students

"Zzzzzzz" This is the sound of Darren snoozing in the corner as you're trying to lecture. Meanwhile, Emily and Sherelle are busy gossiping about their weekend. Does this sound like your classroom? If so, you will enjoy this lesson, which introduces many techniques to get misbehaving students back on track.

Basic Teaching Methods

Remember the old days, when teachers lectured for hours while students took notes or dozed? Those days are gone! This lesson introduces a host of innovative techniques, from window paning and role-playing to mnemonics and visualization, that work like magic in a student-centered classroom.

Planning Your Course

"Proper prior planning" may be a cliché, but it's also an excellent idea. This lesson looks at the up-front work that can set you up for success in the classroom. To do so, you will discover the 12 steps for creating a dynamite course outline.

Educational Aids and Classroom Technology

Just as an interior decorator accents a room with bright colors and great fabrics, you can accent your classroom presentations with the right audiovisual aids. This lesson looks at high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech educational aids and technology you can use to capture and keep your students' attention.

Creating Effective Presentations

What motivates your students to learn? This lesson introduces 10 needs and desires that bring learners to your classroom—and you will discover how to tap into those motivators during your presentations. You will also learn how to create powerful presentation openings, content, and closings.

Grading and Advising Your Students

This lesson explores the A-B-C's of grading and the ways to write top-notch test questions. In addition, you will discover great tools for assessing any type of skill, from cake-baking to hairdressing. You will also find out how to avoid the most common mistakes teachers make when they assess students.

Teaching Students Who Have Special Needs

This lesson focus on making your class accessible and enjoyable for students with disabilities. You will learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), how to comply with this law, and common learning disabilities — dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in particular.

Teaching Study Skills and Test-Taking Techniques

Even if you create great lessons, your students will succeed only if they have great study habits and efficient test-taking skills. This lesson explores ways to beef up your students' study skills and look at strategies for test-taking.

Starting a Career as an Adult Educator

Enough about your students—this lesson is all about you! Whether you're a brand-new teacher or an experienced educator looking for new classroom opportunities, you will find tips here on how to power up your job search.