by Almondie Shampine

Created on: February 04, 2008

More and more adults are returning to school, either by choice or as a requirement in their current profession. This article will confront the pros and cons in being an adult-learner, the issues that arise from non-traditional students in traditional settings such as adult-learning styles, disabilities and limitations, and how the education and career system is evolving and expanding to tackle the specific needs of adult-learning education.

1. Why Are So Many Adults Looking to Continue Their Education?

Behind most every adult returning to school is the motivation of an adult learning career. Adult education is being sought to either improve ones job and/or career opportunities, establish a career, or to change careers.

The rapid change of technology as well as an increasing global economic competitiveness is reforming the skills, qualifications, and education-requirements for career success, which is placing many adults in the predicament of having to return to school for their economic well-being. Adults who were unable to continue their education at an earlier time are returning later when they are more able to establish their career of choice (or necessity). Also, hard-times in our society and/or our economy as well as personal hard-times tend to send a flurry of adults back to school as fear of future well-being is escalated. Whatever the reason may be, most adults return to school for the purpose of a career, new or old.

2. What Options and Resources are Available to Adults Looking to Continue Their Education in Comparison to the Traditional Student?

Unlike the traditional younger students who generally go to college following high school with open minds to their future and all the vast opportunities in the big world, adult's looking to continue their education basically have a good idea of what they want to pursue and require a specific plan of action to obtain this goal. When an adult is deciding upon a college or continuing education program, they are more likely to concern over the college's location, whether the college offers their precise program of study, the college's level of accreditation, cost, and, of course, convenience, as most adult-learners have work and family commitments as well.

As education plays such a huge role in our society, colleges are constantly in competition to offer the most and the best to potential students. Adults are now making up approximately 40 percent of these potential students. There are two-year and four-year degree,

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