Presented by:

Sara DreisbachStudent Success Center

CoordinatorCoffeyville Community College

What is a non-traditional What is a non-traditional student?student?

• Over 25 years old

• Experiencing transition at home

• Workplace transition

Peer Tutors vs. Non-TradsPeer Tutors vs. Non-Tradsoror

What Non-Trads Know and Gen Y Doesn’tWhat Non-Trads Know and Gen Y Doesn’t Gen Y has no meaningful recollection of the Reagan Era and probably did not know he Gen Y has no meaningful recollection of the Reagan Era and probably did not know he

had ever been shot.had ever been shot. Gen Y was prepubescent when the Persian Gulf War was waged.Gen Y was prepubescent when the Persian Gulf War was waged. Gen Y was 10 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember the Cold War.Gen Y was 10 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember the Cold War. Gen Y is too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.Gen Y is too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up. Tianamen Square means nothing to Gen Y.Tianamen Square means nothing to Gen Y. For Gen Y, bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.For Gen Y, bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic. The statement "You sound like a broken record" often means nothing to Gen Y since The statement "You sound like a broken record" often means nothing to Gen Y since

they’ve never seen a record.they’ve never seen a record. The Compact Disc was introduced when Gen Y was 1 year old.The Compact Disc was introduced when Gen Y was 1 year old. Most Gen Yers have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they seen a Most Gen Yers have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they seen a

black and white TV.black and white TV. Gen Y cannot fathom not having a remote control.Gen Y cannot fathom not having a remote control. Gen Y parents don't know what a cloth baby diaper is, or know about theGen Y parents don't know what a cloth baby diaper is, or know about the

"Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up" commercial."Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up" commercial. Gen Y was born the year that Walkmen were introduced by Sony.Gen Y was born the year that Walkmen were introduced by Sony. Roller skating has always meant inline for Gen Y.Roller skating has always meant inline for Gen Y. For Gen Y Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show.For Gen Y Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show. Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave for Gen Y.Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave for Gen Y. Gen Yers never took a swim and thought about Jaws.Gen Yers never took a swim and thought about Jaws. The Vietnam War is as ancient history to Gen Y as W.W.I, W.W.II and the Civil War The Vietnam War is as ancient history to Gen Y as W.W.I, W.W.II and the Civil War

were to Baby Boomers.were to Baby Boomers. Non-trads think of Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama a bands and not Non-trads think of Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama a bands and not

places.places. There has always been MTV.There has always been MTV.

Typical Non-Traditional Typical Non-Traditional StudentsStudents

Grew up with Kaptain KangarooGrew up with Kaptain Kangaroo Remember the Vietnam War on TVRemember the Vietnam War on TV Remember black and white TVRemember black and white TV Have childrenHave children Many have grandchildrenMany have grandchildren

Pivotal Moments in LifeWhere Were You When?

• Teens and 20’s – WTC attacks, Sept. 11,

2001

• 30’s – The shuttle Challenger exploded

• 40’s – Man landed on the moon

• 50’s – JFK was shot

• 60’s – Berlin Wall was built

• 70’s – Pearl Harbor was attacked

• 80’s – The Hindenburg exploded

• 90’s – 1929 Black Monday stock market

crash

Why are they here?Why are they here?

Gain skills previously not attainedGain skills previously not attained Change in employment requirementsChange in employment requirements Retraining for different employmentRetraining for different employment Desire to seek new knowledgeDesire to seek new knowledge

Adult Learners are DifferentAdult learners often have to overcome physical barriers to learning not experienced by traditional students. These include, but are not limited to:

• Hearing issues – maximum auditory acuity is reached around age 15, after that there is a gradual decline until about age 65.

• Vision problems – maximum visual acuity is generally reached about age 18. From this point until about age 45 vision begins to gradually decline with a sharp decline occurring between ages 45 and 55. By age 30 the average adult needs 120 watts of illumination to see properly – by 50 that number is 180 watts.

• Motor tasks – motor skills tend to slow down as people age. This decline can begin at 18 but is most noted after age 40. Reaction times increase and it takes longer to process information.

• Negative past experience -- a negative past experience can leave emotional scars that can physically impact the learning process, i.e., being told you’re dumb in math may create a mental block toward the subject.

(West Virginia Adult Basic Education)

Overcoming Barriers

These barriers can be overcome, but doing so requires a conscious effort on the part of the student and the tutor. Methods of surpassing these barriers include:

• Hearing – find a quite place to work with few distractions. What Gen Y thinks of as soothing background sounds can be like fingernails on a chalkboard to adult students. Also, it is important to speak clearly and slowly. Write down key points for clarification.

• Vision – ensure that the area in which you are working is

properly lit. Use large, contrasting fonts when typing.

•Motor skills – encourage the student to tape

record both lectures and tutoring sessions so that they can catch notes they might miss writing down. Use a variety of learning techniques.

•Negative past – use positive reinforcement to

overcome negative past. Provide activities that allow learners to succeed.

Don’t AssumeDon’t Assume

They can’t learnThey can’t learn They experienced failure in earlier They experienced failure in earlier

school experienceschool experience They know what you are talking aboutThey know what you are talking about They learn the same way you doThey learn the same way you do They have the same goals as They have the same goals as

traditional studentstraditional students

What Adult Students NeedWhat Adult Students Need

To be motivatedTo be motivated To participate in goal settingTo participate in goal setting To have their experiences appreciatedTo have their experiences appreciated To participate activelyTo participate actively To share responsibility in the learning To share responsibility in the learning

processprocess Experience a sense of progressExperience a sense of progress Benefit from peer support and reinforcementBenefit from peer support and reinforcement Problem solving exercises that simulate real-Problem solving exercises that simulate real-

life situationslife situations

According to Malcolm Knowles

Tutor Training Suggestion

Play the old switch-a-roo

Give the peer tutor a contemporary history assignment. Then assign them to a non-traditional student. The non-traditional

student will act as the tutor and the peer tutor as the tutee. By switching roles, it will give both the non-traditional student

and the tutee the understanding of being in the other person’s shoes and allow them to

develop a respect for each other.

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

Non-Traditionals are in school for a Non-Traditionals are in school for a variety of reasonsvariety of reasons

Don’t assumeDon’t assume Try to understandTry to understand Remember, they are students like Remember, they are students like

you in a number of ways.you in a number of ways.

Contact Information

Sara DreisbachStudent Success Center Coordinator

Coffeyville Community College400 W. 11th

Coffeyville, KS 67337

sarad@coffeyville.edu

Works Cited

West Virginia Adult Basic Education. "www.wvabe.org." 2007-2008. West Virginia Adult Basic Education. 8 Apr 2008 <http://www.wvabe.org/tcher_handbook_pdf/section3.pdf>.