All Adult Learners Should Be Treated Like Adults

Our students don't act like this... If Adults Acted Like Kids (click it) Don't teat them like such.

 While reading "The skillful teacher" one of the four assumptions about a skillful teacher is the ability to treat all adult learners, regardless of age, as adults (Brookfield, 2015). 

This seems so obvious at a glance and to some instructors it may never be an issue or a concern.        For me... in my foundations electrical class I often have dual credit students who are 17 years old mixed in with 20, 30, and even 40 year old students. 

I firmly believe that it is one of my duties as a trades instructor to treat everyone as an adult and how to communicate as an adult. One of my truths as an instructor is that I am very student driven. I want all my students (who want it for themselves) to be successful.  It isn't just that I want them to succeed on their exams... I want them to succeed in getting a job, succeed in their apprenticeship and eventually succeed in their Red Seal. All of these successes are dependent on the students overall ability to be an ADULT. All learners regardless of age have something to contribute, in electrical even more so. Almost everyone has some basic understanding of electrical, even if it's just that a switch turns on a light. In this case it is my obligation to give everyone a chance to speak their mind, and be heard when they speak... at the end of the day isn't this what being an adult is?   

Another reason I believe in treating adult learners as adults is because society will treat them as adults. Students successful in my class will hopefully join the workforce, eventually having their very first day on the job. 

Oh... my.... what can I even say. It is the worst feeling in the world, everyone has experienced day one of a new job but not everyone has experienced day one in the trades. 

Would I have done that student a service treating them like a teenager in my class to them go out and join a very (alpha) male dominated workforce? 

Would I have done that student a service by not sharing with them my experiences and stories from past day one experiences because I viewed them differently then the adult they are? 

I continue to go back to this chapter and re-read and reflect on the other core assumptions of skillful teaching, something I expect the author knew we as instructors would do.