Thinking Freely Volume 1 Issue 2

                       Adult Education - Remediation or Enrichment

 “Most adults want to learn math but are just afraid to attempt it because of past failures and humiliation,” says Professor Allen 

Math professionals are aware of many ways in which mathematical topics are woven together.  They should be able to select topics that will interest the adult learners while deepening their understanding of the basic material they need to know.  Such a procedure would allow learners to feel that they are moving forward rather than being stuck in the same rut. How can we make adults feel that they are learning something new and different? 

1.  Introduce new concepts. Include number theory and math history to point up the development of mathematical procedures. 

2.  Put a different slant on drills.  Yes, we must drill, but drills can be made interesting and relevant. 

3.  Deal with the realistic.  Carefully chosen word problems are more meaningful than symbolic examples. A creative educator can get beyond the same old textbook material and provide an exciting, interesting and enriching environment for the adult learner. Adult learners have seen a lot of mathematics before.  If they have been unsuccessful with mathematics, they don’t want to relive those experiences. 

Therefore, educators have to take a totally new approach to the teaching of mathematics.  They have to introduce material which the adult learner will see as enrichment rather than repetition.