ERIC Number: ED250988
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1984-Jul
Pages: 47
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Faculty and Student Attitudes toward the Mixed-Age College Class.
Mishler, Carol; Davenport, Margaret
Attitudes held by younger and older students in mixed-age college classes were surveyed, as were the attitudes of teachers toward the mixed-age classes. Seven campuses in the University of Wisconsin system participated in the survey. Findings for the faculty included the following: faculty preferred an age-mix in class; almost all faculty expressed a "very" or "somewhat" favorable reaction; faculty felt that adults' presence in class brought an improved intellectual environment and more mature class discussion; about half of the faculty viewed adults' writing skills for college as better than those of younger students; and most faculty did not change their teaching style, type of assignments or tests, nor their management of class discussion in the mixed-age class. The student population surveyed was primarily freshmen and sophomores, and 60 percent were under age 25. Results of the student questionnaires included the following observations: the majority of students believed that mixed-age classes were more interesting; most students did not prefer classes composed exclusively of their own age group; most students viewed adults and younger students as comfortable socializing; and most felt that the age mix of the class had little effect on learning. Student and faculty questionnaires are appended. (SW)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Wisconsin Univ., Green Bay. Assessment Center.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A