Quick Highlights:
- Adult learners face challenges when it comes to studying which require them to have practical, self-guided, and results-oriented study strategies.
- Effective study techniques like chunking, active learning, and technology like educational apps help enhance learning efficiency.
- Prioritize personal wellness and motivation with regular breaks, exercise, and goal-setting to manage stress and prevent burnout.
Table of contents
As an adult learner, you will face many unique challenges when you decide to go back to school. Time management for adult students is often difficult because you have to handle so many different things. You have to balance your work, family, and studies at the same time, which can sometimes feel impossible.
To have a better experience with balancing work and study, it is important to learn the best study tips for adult learners. In addition to working on effective studying, you should also learn how to access online study resources for adults. Through the best support and tools, you can simplify the process involved in getting a degree.
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Understanding the Adult Learner
As an adult learner, you have specific needs. You might face unique time restraints that make balancing work and study difficult. Most adult learners don’t have the luxury of quitting their jobs to go to school. Many adult students have to work full-time jobs and study in the evenings. Often, adult learners are also parents. They have to help their children with homework and do chores during their free time as well.
- Practical: The typical adult learner is practical and hands-on. They resent theoretical concepts because they need concrete tools that they can immediately put to use in a new job.
- Self-Guided: Because adult learners have a purpose behind going to school, they are known as self-guided learners. They don’t have to be forced to study or do homework because they know that their work will lead to an important result.
- Busy: Unlike younger college students, adult learners tend to have many responsibilities in their day-to-day lives. Other than going to school, they also have to manage full-time jobs and family responsibilities.
- Results-Oriented: Adult learners are in college for a specific reason. They want to see results for their efforts. When presented with new information, adults want to test it out and see if it works before they start using the information.
- Slower Learning: Because it has been a while since they were in school, adults tend to learn at a slower pace than teenagers and young adults. However, an adult tends to achieve deeper, more integrated learning than younger learners.
Because of these qualities, study tips for adult learners are often different than they are for high school students. They need effective studying tips that lead to immediate results because they don’t have time to slowly memorize information by rote. More importantly, adult learners don’t want to memorize useless information if they can devote their time to learning something that will help in their day-to-day lives.
When designing online study resources for adults and educational apps for adult learners, organizations have to focus on adaptable, result-oriented strategies. For example, they may need to design digital flashcards and other tools that can easily be paused whenever the learner needs to make dinner or change a diaper. Additionally, apps and other study tools may be more effective if they allow the adult to track their progress so that the learner can immediately see the results of their efforts.
Effective Time Management
Time management for adult students is one of the most important study hacks to develop. Whether you are looking for efficient study techniques for parents or distant education strategies, learning to manage your time wisely is incredibly important for your academic success.
To learn about time management for adult students, you should start by figuring out how to prioritize tasks. Sometimes, people waste time accomplishing unnecessary tasks and things that they could do later on. You should generally try to finish your important tasks first each day. Additionally, you may want to do your most important tasks during the time of day when you are most alert.
Other than learning how to prioritize tasks, you should also work on your scheduling. You need to be realistic about balancing work and study. Life events and emergencies will come up, so you need to make sure that you leave a little extra time in your schedule. In addition, you may want to consider part-time options for your education so that you can still have time for your work and family obligations.
Utilizing Technology
If you’re searching for distance education strategies, don’t forget to take advantage of apps and online tools. Educational technology for non-traditional students has exploded in recent years. Through apps and online resources, you can save time and learn the best study tips for adult learners.
You can find apps that help with time management by going online. For example, Motion helps you prioritize tasks and block out time for specific activities. Meanwhile, My Study Life is one of the best school planners and organizational apps available.
Other than apps, you can find a range of online platforms and courses that you can use to get help. You can sign up for the Great Courses series if you want to learn more about a subject. If you’re struggling in a math class, you can also find forums, like the Free Math Help Forum, for additional support.
Creating a Conducive Study Environment
One of the best techniques for effective studying is to adjust your environment. If you’re sitting in the living room with the television on and children screaming, it will be hard to learn. While it isn’t always possible for parents to avoid noise, you may be able to talk to your partner or another family member about watching the kids during studying sessions.
Whenever possible, you want to set up a quiet, dedicated space for studying. This area should have all of the calculators, pencils, and other tools you need to complete your work. Then, ask your family members to leave you alone during studying sessions so that you can have an easier time completing your schoolwork.
Study Techniques for Adult Learners
In addition to preparing a quiet environment, there are other efficient study techniques for parents that can help with learning. Chunking and active learning are two of the most effective techniques for studying. With chunking, you must break down large study sessions into shorter sessions. By getting regular breaks and bite-sized chunks of learning, you can:
- refresh your brain
- increase your sense of focus
- boost your productivity
Active learning can also help you achieve more effective studying sessions. With active learning, you use summarization, practical application, and teaching back to increase the amount you learn. Summarization is when you summarize what you have learned, which ensures that you understand the topic.
The teaching back technique uses a similar concept. By teaching a real or imaginary person what you just learned, you help to synthesize your learning and check your comprehension. Similarly, applying your knowledge in a practical way helps to cement it in your mind so that you remember the new information over the long run.
The Power of Peer Support
In gyms, you often see people with workout buddies because having a buddy increases the likelihood that they will work out each day. The same thing is true for studying. When returning to school as an adult, you should always try to set up study groups in your classes because these group sessions encourage you to do your homework. If you do have a question, your study group can help you understand the subject and find an answer.
With online learning, it isn’t always possible to create a study group. As a part of finding online study resources for adults, you should search for online communities for each class subject. Then, these communities can provide you with emotional and academic support as you work through your college education.
Maintaining Motivation and Wellness
No matter what flexible learning options you use, you need to take care of your personal wellness and stress levels. Pay attention to signs of burnout, such as apathy, fatigue, frequent illness, and irritability. When you notice these symptoms, it is important to practice self-care and give yourself a break.
Among other strategies, you can use the following tips to stay motivated.
- Create goal lists and break down each objective into individual milestones.
- Give yourself regular breaks to help improve your concentration.
- Exercise.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Practice mindfulness meditation.
- Take regular walks to reduce stress.
- Talk to a friend when you are struggling with burnout.
Leveraging Academic Resources
Some of the best educational technology for non-traditional students can make learning easier. With online study resources for adults, you can get help with academic advising. In addition to doing research at your on-campus library, your school may also offer online resources and tutoring centers that you can use when you’re at home. By accessing these online options, you can make balancing work and study a little easier.
Learn How to Study More Effectively
With the right online study resources for adults, you can begin balancing work and study with your family responsibilities. Returning to school as an adult isn’t easy, but effective studying tools can make the process easier.
As you learn about study tips for adult learners, you should experiment with different strategies and see what works for you. Over time, you can learn about time management for adult students and have an easier experience pursuing your degree.