Interview with a Professional Teacher of

Adult LearnersJames Turner

HE-521

The nature of the educational setting is formal.

Mr. X is a former attack helicopter pilot with over 17 years of flight experience who now teaches undergraduate and graduate flight students for the U.S. Army.

The instructional settings are the classroom and the AH-64D Longbow Crew Trainer (simulator).

Educational Setting

The experience of teaching very inexperienced pilots and very advanced pilots with various backgrounds, nationalities, and ages.

Being able to utilize some very advanced technologies in the simulator which aid in instruction.

What do you like about your job?

Budget cuts and hiring freezes reduce the available personnel and equipment available to us.

The technology is constantly changing and we are always learning new versions of software and model upgrades.

What are some challenges you face in your job.

To be able to facilitate learning in both the classroom and simulator which are very different platforms.

To recognize the abilities of the students and tailor the instruction to accommodate their needs.

What have you learned in your position?

Study the material you will be teaching and stay current with the changes.

Ask questions to other instructors if you are unsure of the material.

What advice do you have for someone starting out?

Mr. X noted that the students he teaches vary in age and experience. The older and more experienced students are more self-directed and they bring a wealth of experience. This goes along with Knowles’ (1980) assumptions of Andragogy.

Summary

Merriam, S., Caffarella, R., & Baumgartner, L. (2006). Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Knowles, M.S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education: From pedagogy to andragogy (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge Books.

References