Characteristics of adult learners at the post-baccalaureate level at the University of North Dakota.
Date of Award
3-3-1991
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Teaching & Learning
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of older-than-average post-baccalaureate students at the University of North Dakota. Questionnaires were sent a random sample of both part-time and full-time graduate and professional students (law and medicine). The questionnaires gathered information on the demographics, educational histories, preferred teaching/learning styles, perceived student strengths and weaknesses, perceived strengths and weaknesses of support services, and primary reasons that adults returned to school. The majority of the students were between the ages of 25 and 29 and were from a town population of 10,000-99,000. Respondents were about evenly divided between males and females. Most had had interruptions in their education.Graduate students typically were employed an average of 29 hours per week while going to school; professional students typically were not employed. The primary reason that adult learners were enrolled in programs of study was occupation- or career-related.Adult learners in graduate and professional schools preferred college teachers who were organized, knowledgeable, and well-prepared in their subject areas and who were enthusiastic, enjoyed teaching, communicated clearly and concisely, and showed practical applications of the subject to the lives of the students."Lectures with discussion" as a teaching/learning strategy was preferred by 94 percent of the adult learners while "group projects" was the least-preferred choice. Most preferred to be evaluated through the use of examinations or examinations in addition to assignments. Most did not like being evaluated for group projects.Adult learners perceived their student skills to be strong in the areas of comprehending instruction; completing assignments; reading, writing, and oral communication; and in general problem solving. They perceived that their student skills were the weakest in the skill areas of mathematics and computer literacy.The most difficult obstacle for adult learners in their current university studies was to maintain a balance between attention to family, job, and finances and attention to fulfilling the requirements of being a student.
Recommended Citation
Keable Tholl, Doreen Marie, "Characteristics of adult learners at the post-baccalaureate level at the University of North Dakota." (1991). Theses and Dissertations. 8715.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/8715