Teaching Adult Learners Interview

Interviewer: Desiree RainsInterviewee: Dr. Kimberly Case

How long have you been in your profession? How many courses do you teach per semester?

Dr. Case reports that she has been teaching for over 20 years and teaches one course per semester and enjoys it very much.

Do you work in other programs beside Kaplan University? For example do you work at a community college or another occupation?

Dr. Case mentioned that she thought about working outside of online teaching, but her busy life does not allow it at this point in time!

What are the challenges of teaching adult learners? What are the best things about teaching adult learners?

Competition for time.

Want to teach more than time allows.

Would like to get to know the students better.

Students aware of various roles we all play. (working, family etc.)

It is liberating to learn from the students and experience with them.

Dr. Case just loves teaching!I could not picture doing anything else. Throughout my experiences as well as my personal interests, I always knew I would be a teacher, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I do not mind the challenges, and enjoy the roles I play as a wife, mother, and a teacher!

Do you consider yourself to have more of a teacher based classroom setting or student based?

My classroom is definitely more student based. I feel as though it is most important to get students to motivate each other and collaborate as peers on discussion board assignments and wikis. I cannot stress that enough to students that participation enhances their learning and makes the experience worthwhile.

What advice do you have for a person starting out for the teaching profession?

Dr. Case’s advice to a person starting out is to have confidence and to be flexible with the changes and challenges at hand. When this is established, being an instructor is a fun experience.

What social or personal challenges have you faced in your teaching career?

“Some challenges that I have faced in my career include the lack of opportunities to collaborate on research projects as I am not full time and I am not surrounded by my fellow colleagues” (Case, 2015).

Do you think there is a difference of quality of learning outcome in traditional learning versus online learning? Does one setting have an advantage over the other? If so why or why not?

I think that learning online is just as valuable as learning in the traditional classroom. Oftentimes, I think that it is more rigorous and marked by learning outcomes linking to the goals of the university. It is a very new way of learning still and it needs getting used to for some constituents.

I can say that I personally have more contact and communication with students in my online courses than I have ever had in the traditional classroom setting.

Is it important to you as a Professor to be flexible and always evolve as student needs change? Do you believe in capability education?

Flexibility as an instructor is essential for student success! There are times when I as a teacher must change deadlines or revise assignments to meet the needs of my students, all within reason though and according to the university guidelines. I am not certain as to the definition of capability learning but I will research and get back to you asap!

Thank you !End of interview: Desiree Rains and Dr. Kimberly Case (2015)