I taught my first adult education class when I was about 33 years old. It was a bit disconcerting at first to see my students filing into the classroom and I'm sure they were concerned about my qualifications as well. I was the youngest one in the room and yet I was the instructor. That takes a bit of getting used to.

Most people's experiences with education take place when they are young and the teacher is significantly older. Even in college, the "typical" student is at least several years younger than the professor. Adult education leaves both teacher and student on unfamiliar territory. The way the teacher handles things will set the tone for the entire course.

My first class was a phlebotomy class. I had over eleven years experience in the field and I definitely knew my material. One of the worst things I've seen happen in adult classes is a teacher thinks they can fluff their way through, without being properly prepared. Adult students are very aware of what an instructor is doing and they are almost always in class because they want to learn. They expect a prepared and knowledgeable instructor and they deserve the best from their teacher. As with any educational arena, both students and teachers need to treat each other with consideration and respect.

I started off the class by bringing up my experience and detailing where I had worked to obtain that experience. I could see the students looking at each other and beginning to relax. I then asked them all what they expected from and what they wished to take with them from the class. Luckily, I managed to make the students in that class feel comfortable with me. Without that, I don't think a class can be successful.

When teaching adult education, you must remember that there are different circumstances facing adults than children in school. Many of my students had young children at home and full time day jobs to deal with as well as school work. It's important to adjust assignments accordingly to give each student an equal chance to excel. That means being a bit more flexible with due dates and always having an open door policy for students to speak to you about any issues that prevent them from doing their work on time. You don't know what is going on in anyone's personal life unless you ask. You still need to set high standards for the students and expect them to do their part. If you keep in mind that they may have family and work obligations, you'll find it's much

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