ERIC Number: ED311203
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1989-May-21
Pages: 8
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
"I Just Didn't Have Enough Time..." Assisting the Busy Adult Learner Develop Critical Reading and Thinking Skills.
Diaz-Lefebvre, Rene
Several factors are related to adult students' completion or noncompletion of reading assignments before class--lack of study time, their motivation for taking college classes, their need to feel involved in the learning process, and their expectations for success in the classroom. One of the biggest fears of adults returning to a school environment is the subject of "testing." A study was implemented by a community college teacher to analyze an approach using study guides to help students reduce stress toward testing and develop critical reading and thinking skills. The guides were made up of 30 multiple-choice questions taken from the publisher's test bank. Because the teacher covered two chapters each week in class, 15 questions were taken from each chapter. Before students began on the study guide, they did a relaxation, deep breathing exercise and listened to specially selected baroque music to help relieve stress. During the first part of each class, students completed the study guide (multiple-choice statements) using an open-book format. After completion of the study guide, the teacher and students discussed the answers and the teacher introduced various topics covered in the chapter. In addition to the relaxation exercises, the teacher gave reassuring comments to reduce student tension. A benefit of this method was that students received immediate feedback, were familiar with the chapters, developed confidence in participating in class discussion, had a sense of control in their own learning, and were motivated to learn. The study guides were used to prepare for the "Exit Inventory" that students completed at the end of the course. At that time, no book or notes were used. Results from the Exit Inventories were very encouraging in demonstrating recognition of previously learned study guides. (A 10-item bibliography is attached.) (NLL)
Descriptors: Adult Education, Adult Students, Feedback, Goal Orientation, Multiple Choice Tests, Participant Characteristics, Reading Instruction, Reinforcement, Retention (Psychology), Stress Management, Student Characteristics, Study Guides, Study Habits, Teacher Response, Test Anxiety, Two Year Colleges
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Guides - Non-Classroom
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Teachers; Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the International Conference on Teaching Excellence (11th, Austin, TX, May 21, 1989).