Posted: February 1st, 2023

Assignment on Managing Time as an Adult Learner

Assignment on Managing Time as an Adult Learner
INTRODUCTION
In today’s world there are several challenges and obstacles that adult learners face right from the college level. As adults get older and assume more responsibilities, making the decision to further one’s education can be overwhelming and frustrating. There are things in adult’s lives that have to happen on a daily basis. For example, taking care of children or work and attending classes in the college may become last priorities if the adult does not plan his time properly. When an adult makes the decision to attend college, it should become one of his priorities in life. Prior to any study task, it is important to acquire some study skills such as reading and thinking (Motevalli, et al). There are a number of strategies that an adult learner can employ before starting the journey of furthering his or her education.
Most students usually qualify for some sort of financial aid. This aid is also open to adult students. The aid may be in the form of scholarships, grants, loan or even an employer reimbursement. The big question is whether students know that some programs now exist where a student can earn college credit for working. (Siebert, & Karr 2008). An adult learner need to first formulate a plan and a goal. However, one of the biggest challenges today is financial constraint. This is because not every adult is in the same financial situation. It is therefore necessary to first figure out a way of funding the education and to explore all benefits and programs that are available as an adult learner to ease the load of paying the college fees.
Some adult learners are usually in a career but others do decide that it is time for a change. An adult should select a program that fits his requirements and desires and then determine what the end goal of that program is. Choosing a program and determining its end goal is very important. No adult learner would wish to waste time or money on a program that may not fit his needs and interests.
When starting or continuing a college education, an adult may feel uncomfortable in a school setting. For instance, the number of adult students on campus has significantly grown in the last decades. Students who are above 25 years of age make up approximately 39% of total student population across the nation as opposed to 28% in 70 (Siebert, & Karr, 2008). Some adults usually feel too old for the college environment. As a result, they need to prepare well for the education at the college. Preparation may come in the form of proper orientation to the school either online or at the campus. Furthermore, an adult can order textbooks early so as to become familiar with the content of the class. Understanding the procedures and policies of the given school is very important in moving forward with an education as well.
Adults need to understand the kind of learning habits and styles they have in order to help prepare for their college experience. As the adults get older, most of them find hobbies or even develop close social circles that become part of their routine daily life. Just as there are differences in personality, there are also differences in the ways that we learn and use information. Some people are quiet and tend to be reflective in the way they process information. On the other hand, others are “take charge” kinds of people who need to put information to immediate use and to solve problems (Keeley, 2011). Most adults have established a learning style and find that certain fears may be fitting in or failing college all together. This fear may be termed as anxiety; absence or presence of psychological stress that cause feelings of fear, horror or concerns (Motevalli, et al, 2013). When an adult understands his learning habit, he can effectively and efficiently develop and implement proper education plan.
It is important to note that the crazy busy trend is not merely a by-product of today’s high-speed, globalized society but rather a defining feature. This is because we live in a world of 24-7 connectivity, higher expectations, escalating demands and economic uncertainty (Hallowell, 2012). As pressure increases from children, family and work the adult finds that he has less time today to focus on personal priorities. Everyone seems to want something and our daily tasks make personal wishes fall through. Unfortunately, college is sometimes the event that gets pushed out of the way. An adult needs to develop a priority list of tasks in his or her life and then follow through to ensure chance of success.
Hallowell asserts that it is important to choose and prioritize. He added that in order to do well and be happy, students need to say “no, thank you” to many people and activities. An order of importance has to be a factor in an adult learner’s daily life. Sustaining a daily rhythm is very important in today’s modern world and an adult has to be able to juggle many things on a daily basis to organize those priorities. The adult must have a decision making process ability and strict self-discipline to follow through on a daily schedule and in the end it is usually personal time that will be sacrificed.
Students find it difficult to locate the time they need to study, or that there are conflicts among the various demands on their time. The students may need to give greater consideration to their goals. By getting a clear understanding of their goals, it will be easier to decide how they spend their time. Students can more easily put off other things and set aside the time they need for studies, if they know how this will help them to achieve their educational or career goals (Keeley, 2011).
Personal time is very important to everybody. Doing the things an adult wants to do first may fit into a schedule or calendar of events as long as the adult can have self-discipline and adhere to that schedule. For instance, some adults like to exercise so that they become active. A solution may be to do it first thing in the morning. That way, it cannot be felt like an obstacle that the adult has to overcome throughout the day. As an adult, a feeling of personal development and self- satisfaction can help to boost self-esteem and maintain momentum.
In conclusion, as an adult goes on through college and succeeds by getting good grades, it is inevitable that confidence will grow. This is very important in that it breeds a momentum and gradually over time, the adult will have incorporated college learning into one of their must-do tasks of the day. This leads to an end in the fear and anxiety. As time goes by, it becomes easier for the adult to follow through on the college commitment because a sense of pride and accomplishment will grow within. Setting up for success is very crucial prior to starting any educational program especially as an adult. It is important to ensure the presence and availability of finances, a suitable program and a stable well -organized environment. This is because, at the end of the day it, all comes down to the individual adult whether they will succeed or fail in their own individual educational journey.

REFERENCES
Hallowell, E. M. (2012). Survival strategies in a ‘crazy busy’ world. Work & Family Life, 26, 1-2. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/920597447?accountid=8289
Keeley, M. (2011). The basics of effective learning. Retrieved from Faculty.bucks.edu
Motevalli, S., Roslan, S. B., Sulaiman, T., Hamzah, S. G., Hassan, N. C., & Garmjani, M. G.(2013). New study skills training intervention for students who suffer from test anxiety. Asian Social Science, 9(7), p85
Siebert, A., & Karr, M. (2008). The adult student’s guide to survival & success. Portland, Or: Practical Psychology Press:
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