Well I thought we were adding to the list after reflecting on our our own
personal experiences of being 'mature learners' -  which of course may be
related to our individual personalities as well as developmental.  I have
been studying on and off without pause since I left school and my learning
habits and expectations and preferences are quite different in recent
years from those I practised further back in time and my addition to the
list were based on this though there are other characteristics in my
experience that have developed more fully as I have developed more
confidence including preferring to do it 'my way' hence the choice of
flexible and tolerant postgrad supervisors ;-)).
--p@ c

Patsy Clarke

> I think I must live on a different planet.
>   Why, I ask, are we endeavouring to classify older learners as different
> learners to younger ones?  Isn’t the world made up of unique individuals
> who are all different and one of these differences is age?
>
>   Taking the current list:
>   Older people are described as more complex:
> In what way? My youngest daughter at the age of 13 was one of the most
> complex individuals I have met. Her complexities were extensive and, it
> could be argued more extensive than mine.
>   It could also be argued that her ‘experience’ was wider than mine had
> been at her age and, her experience (witnessing her father slowly
> decline into insanity certainly gave her a wider experience than I ever
> had in this way).  She has completed a linguistics degree and is now
> studying nursing – both ‘experiences’ I have not enjoyed.
>   ‘Stronger’ is a difficult word to accept – physically in certain areas,
> I am weaker than I was – but stronger in others. I may appear to have
> more confidence but that is a matter of personality – some youngsters
> can be very, if not ‘over’ confident.
>   We may appear to be slower – in our thought patterns for example, but
> some of the remedial classes I taught contained students who were far,
> far slower than any older individual I have met.
>   As students at school I am sure we were just as reflective as we can be
> when we are older. I remember to this day inspiring teachers who led us
> through ‘real’ A levels where we were encouraged to think and reflect on
> our own experiences and beliefs.
>   To say we have ‘developed personal learning styles’ is to assume that we
> have finished learning. As Tom so rightly points out – this is far from
> the case – as individuals in this ever changing world we are learning
> all the time. We are always ‘developing learning styles’ and surely we
> are changing and adapting these to suit the different issues and
> contexts we come across.
>   You do not have to be old to be selective – some of the students I teach
> at EFL schools are extremely selective about aspects of the material I
> am teaching they decide to focus on.
>   Stubborn – have you talked to a two-year old lately?
>
>   Sorry to keep trying to put a spoke in the wheel, but isn’t this whole
> exercise an excuse to try to make out that we oldies are ‘better’ and
> more knowledgeable than the younger generation?  How do we know this for
> a fact, when we are not part of this younger generation? Aren’t we all
> members of one human race in which older and younger people differ –
> some wiser, more experienced, more complex ..etc. than others? Aren’t
> there times when we oldies appear to be more knowledgeable and
> experienced than the younger generation in SOME matters but aren’t the
> younger generation more knowledgeable and experienced in OTHERS? (I am
> regularly seeking advice on a variety of matters from my other daughter,
> for example).
>
>   Rosemary Westwell
>
>
> ANITA PINCAS <[log in to unmask]> wrote:  Hi,
>
> As our list grows, it would be best if you could add your 1-2 word
> contribution to the list, and send the new list in just as a list.
>
> Then , if you feel it is necessary, you can give an explanation of your
> contribution in a separate message with your new term in the subject
> header. That was we can get a growing list going.
>
> Here is the latest for you to copy and add to.
>
> Factors that might distinguish older from younger adult learners
>
> Older learners are likely to be/have:
>
> ·         more complex,
> ·         more variable in their complexities
> ·         wider experience
> ·         stronger though slower [because so much more experience gets
> brought into it]
> ·         reflective
> ·         developed personal learning styles
> ·         critical
> ·         confident/self-assured
> ·         selective as learners
> ·         stubborn [”ornery”]
>
>
> It would be nice if others jump in and add to the list.
>
> Anita
>
>
>
> Dr.R.J.Westwell (PhD, MA Ed, MA TESOL, BMus, BA Hons) may also be
> contacted: telephone /answerphone UK +44 (0)1353 663918
>
> ---------------------------------
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