Graduate reflection paper 1a - Essay Example

In this way, they can enhance their own learning as well as enhance the development of their students. Different environments also help teachers learn about the needs of the adult learner and how they learn best. Another area that is important to understand is that of assessment, evaluation and the adaptation of materials for adult learners. Sometimes a teacher may run across some pertinent material in preparing for a class, that one wants to incorporate into the class. Sometimes the material can be adapted "as is," but most of the time, it must be adapted to fit the needs of the students and the teacher.

The teacher must have developed the skills to easily integrate the information in order to be most effective. When students enter any type of training or educational pursuit, they bring with them a wealth of professional and personal experience. Some students are used to being in educational environments while others are the first from their families to enter college. There are many learning theories that assist in learning about teaching styles. Beginning theorists like B.F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov through their behaviorism gave an understanding of how to help adult learners learn when they are struggling.

As an example, many students may struggle with a concept at work that needs to be done efficiently. Using the behavior theories, this concept can be broken down into smaller parts. This is one way that a lesson could be adapted for more than one type of learner. The cognitive theories are important to teaching and learning because they rely on an individuals internal stimuli to measure performance. For the adult learner who is attempting to move forward with their lives, the concepts of motivation, self-direction, decision making, problem solving, and learning to think in positive frameworks, are very important.

These theories encourage teachers to understand how students learn. A central group of