Learning at Any Age: Teaching Political Science to Adult Learners

• In Event: Institutional Research on PS Majors & PhD Students & Curricular Evaluations of Research Methods

Abstract

While most pedagogical research in political science focuses on teaching undergraduate and graduate students, teaching political science to adult learners is often overlooked. How does teaching adult learners differ from experiences with undergraduates? In what ways are these experiences similar? In this paper, we discuss our experiences teaching an international relations course at Brandeis University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (BOLLI). Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes and other adult educational opportunities for older students (55+) have emerged in many academic institutions eager to expand their customer base and offer courses in several areas, such as art history, literature, current events, natural sciences and, of course, the social sciences. Using data and observations collected from teaching two 10-week seminars, our paper explores strategies, challenges, and differences in working with this unique population, especially in comparison with undergraduate students. We find that, unlike many traditional-aged college students, older adult learners tend to be more engaged, leading to richer class discussions. At the same time, these learners come to the classroom with rich backgrounds of experience, which may clash with political science theories and findings.

Authors

• Charmaine N. Willis, Skidmore College

• Keith A Preble, Miami University