Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and Adult Learners

One-third of adult learners have been impacted by childhood trauma. (Perry, 2006)  It might include a parent that was addicted to drugs or alcohol, domestic violence, incarceration, poverty, family illness, mental health issues and the list goes on.

Here is a fantastic article on the subject: 

The Trauma-Informed Classroom

And here is the CDC website with original research data:

CDC ACEs Website

RESOURCE ALERT! Teaching Adults

I ran across this article from Stanford University entitled, "A Dozen Things You Need to Know About Adult Learning." It is an excerpt from the book Teaching Adults: A Practical Guide for New Teachers, by Ralph G. Brocket. (I think I may need to purchase this book!).  It has some very good points. Check it out!

"A Dozen Things"

Paradigms in Learning

I think sometimes the theories we use or don't use have a lot to do with the content, the age, even the day we are teaching.  If I had to pick one, I would say my style is more Social Constructivism.  I tend to use my classroom as a springboard in both directions.  I teach adults who come from varying backgrounds and opportunities.  Their individual funds of knowledge play a huge factor in how I present material.  For example, when I teach various aspects of the U.S. Constitution, I allow my international students (many of whom are refugees with family still trapped in their home country) to teach us as a class why we should be so thankful for freedoms.  As I tried to illustrate in my visual metaphor, I believe that a student's experiences, values, etc all play a role in how they connect to my class and to how they will learn.  I make it a point to get to know them as people as best I can.  As a colleague said in another grad class and has stuck with me, "I cannot have their minds until I have their hearts."

For my “Visual Paradigm of Learning” metaphor, I created a stick-figure student looking down the road toward his future.  All around him are things that influence his learning: values, experiences, opportunities, beliefs, culture, family, traditions and worldview.  Looking over the various theories that were presented, I would say I align most with constructivism, although I really believe the best approach is a combination of theories, dependent of all the factors of the specific class. My students have varying backgrounds and vast differences in opportunities.  I present material different ways in different semesters, depending on the students I have.  However, I always treat my class as a community.  I believe that I best teach when I know my students well and they feel safe and valued.

I also believe that teaching goes way beyond facts, theorems, and output. We are shaping students into the best citizens and human beings they can be and no one theory teaches us the best way to do that.  We celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week and one of my favorite quotes of his is, "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." Our theories and classroom practices must combine ways to advance a student both intellectually and personally or we are not fulfilling our calling, in my opinion.  And yes, I do think teaching is a calling.  It is my life’s’ purpose and I hope you feel the same.

Funds of Knowledge

All sorts of factors play a part in how a student learns and how they respond to my classroom. Some of those influencers are family and home life, the traditions their family observes, their values, worldview and beliefs, the culture (not only ethnic but also the environment) of their home, their life experiences and the opportunities they have been given, some by privilege and some denied by bias.

I was introduced to the idea of Funds of Knowledge during my first semester of graduate work and it put a name to how I viewed the contribution of each student who comes through my door.  I also think a discussion (or ongoing discussions) on FOK is useful in the Adult Education classroom.  Below is a video that can spark discussion (while pulling at the heartstrings!) It's called Caine's Arcade.

Some questions to ask regarding the video and FOK (from HomeworkMarket):

*What external factors influenced Caine’s ability to successfully create his arcade (e.g., what role did his father play in encouraging his project?)?
*What internal factors influenced Caine’s ability to successfully create his arcade? Consider his worldview, values, and funds of knowledge as internal factors.
*How valuable do you think these skills are in the real world? 

Welcome to the Box!

Welcome!  This space will serve as a tool for Adult Education faculty to brainstorm and collaborate. It will also be a blog of topics relating to AED, no matter how difficult, a place and space to discuss honestly and openly issues that face and affect our students.

Adult Education programs offer community-based education to some of the neediest adults, including the unemployed, untrained, disabled, ex-offenders, immigrants, and early school leavers. We serve individuals who need just a little help to achieve their goals and our work is so important! Feel free to send me ideas and suggestions. Let's collaborate together!