Teaching Strategies for Non-Traditional College Students: Catering to Older Learners and Outlier Personalities

Introduction

Higher education is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, so too does the student population it serves. An increasingly diverse array of students, including older learners and those with outlier personalities, are pursuing alternative paths to a college degree. To ensure their success, it is imperative that educators and institutions adopt innovative teaching strategies and provide necessary accommodations to meet the unique needs of these students. In this article, we will explore effective teaching methods for older students on alternative degree tracks and discuss how to accommodate outlier personalities in the learning environment.

Understanding Older Learners

Acknowledge their motivations: Many older students return to college for career advancement, personal fulfillment, or to pursue a passion. Understanding their motivations can help instructors tailor the educational experience to their goals (Daly & Milmoe, 2009).

Flexibility in scheduling: Older students often have work and family commitments. Offering flexible course schedules, online options, or part-time programs can accommodate their busy lives (Kim & Thomas, 2019).

Prior learning assessment: Recognize and reward the prior knowledge and life experience that older students bring to the classroom…