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Tips for "Returning To Learning"
The skills you need for "returning to learning" are the skills you have already developed as an adult juggling multiple responsibilities: managing time, setting priorities, asking questions, and knowing yourself. These are the skills that make learners successful. Add motivation and desire to these skills, and the formula for success is complete. Here are some helpful things to think about:
- KNOW THAT MOST ADULTS FEEL APPREHENSIVE ABOUT RETURNING TO THE
CLASSROOM:
- Individuals who have been out of the classroom for a while are often concerned about how they will perform academically. The truth is, most adults do very well (just as well as they did when they were in school before, if not better) and enjoy it.
- Adult learners are very welcome in the classroom. Teachers like having adult students in their classes because they bring "real world" experiences, are able to connect ideas to other concepts, contribute interesting insights to the exchange of ideas, and ask questions that stimulate discussions.
- THINK ABOUT WHY YOU ARE "RETURNING TO LEARNING":
- Why are you continuing your education? Perhaps you want to see what it is like to be back in school. Possibly you are trying to decide if you will pursue a particular program. Maybe you have always wanted to learn about something. Or, you may want to try something new and expand your life. If you know your reasons, you will be better able to determine if returning to learning is the right step for you.
- Don’t be surprised it you find that there are a lot of other reasons to continue your learning that you never anticipated!
- DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU:
- There is NO right way to do this!
- Think about what is important to YOU in a school or program, about what will fit best for YOU, your life circumstances and goals, and about how you learn best.
- "TRY IT ON":
- You won’t know what "returning to learning" will really be like for you - or how it will fit with the other aspects of your life - until you actually do it.
- Find out! Most people are pleasantly surprised at how well they do, how successfully it can be incorporated into their lives, how much they enjoy it, and how much it enriches their lives.
- MAKE YOUR WELL BEING A PRIORITY:
- Don’t compromise on the things that keep you going physically, emotionally, and spiritually…make sure you build them into your schedule.
- DISCUSS YOUR PLANS WITH SIGNIFICANT OTHERS:
- How might others in your life react to your decision to return to school? Talk to the significant others in your life about your goal, how they can support you, their feelings about the change.
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