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Instructional Design Knowledge Base
Instructional Design Knowledge Base
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Student Considerations

Our Students

We have a diverse group of students enrolled in our online classes. Students come from a range of cultural backgrounds, and have differing knowledge levels, motivation, and abilities. Across all of our venues, approximately a quarter of our students are military and the average age is early thirties. Nearly half are enrolled part time, rather than being full-time students. Many students are also working full time and juggling schooling and other responsibilities in their personal time. Learn more about our
Student Demographics
⁠
.

Adult Learners

These non-traditional students may be responsive to facilitative teaching practices suggested by Knowles’ theory of andragogy or the art and science of teaching adults. Knowles proposed four principles based on the premise that mature learners tend to be self-directed learners that take charge of their own learning. These are:
Adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction.
Experience (including mistakes) provides the basis for learning activities.
Adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance to their job or personal life.
Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented.
There are many methods of creating an online environment that supports these principles:
Learners can be encouraged to take charge of their learning through the provision of a variety of learning materials to engage with, opportunities to select learning activities, and the ability to evaluate and reflect on their learning.
Selection of experiential and problem-centered activities, rather than memorization of content, tends to be of greater interest for these learners.
Course design prompts and encourages instructor feedback on assignments to help students learn from their mistakes and achievements.
The design and pacing of assignments should facilitate a realistic weekly cycle of learning activities to accommodate the busy adult.
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