Going back to school as an adult is not always easy. People may be working, raising a family or trying to figure out how to fit classes into an already busy schedule. Others may have years of work experience but need to strengthen certain skills before moving into a new job or career.
Danielle Knots, manager of Career Pathways at Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast, said that is why Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) programs are built around the people who take them.
“We try to figure out what skills people have so that we can bring those experiences to the classroom so we can build the programs to meet their needs and their goals,” Knots said.
Finding a Class That Fits
For adults, finding time for school can be one of the biggest challenges.
A parent may need to work during the day. Someone else may have child care responsibilities or other commitments that make a traditional class schedule difficult. Danielle said AEL programs take those realities into account.
Classes may be offered in different formats, including hybrid, virtual, and in-person options.
The idea is to give adults more than one way to participate instead of expecting everyone to fit the same schedule.
Danielle also pointed to another hurdle that can be easy to overlook: confidence.
She said adults can sometimes get stuck thinking they cannot do something before they even give themselves the chance to try. Getting past that first hurdle and registering for a class can be an important part of getting started.
Bringing Work Experience Into the Classroom
Going back to school does not mean starting from zero. Adults who have spent years working already have knowledge and experiences that can be useful in the classroom. Danielle said AEL programs can bring together people with different levels of experience so they can learn from each other.
Someone who has worked in a particular field, for example, may be able to help another student understand how something learned in class connects to an actual workplace. That experience can also help students make connections with other people and learn more about the field they want to enter.
When Math Gets in the Way
Math was another area Danielle discussed, particularly for adults who may have forgotten some of the skills they learned in school. Workforce Solutions recently developed a math curriculum with MC3 to help adults strengthen those foundational skills.
Danielle said the curriculum focuses on helping students figure out what they understand, where they have gaps and how those pieces connect.
“Math is building just like reading,” Knots said. “But you have to feel comfortable and able to understand what part you don’t understand so that you can correct and do some corrective action so that you can then make the points of connection.”
For someone preparing for an aptitude test, those skills can make a difference. Math and literacy questions can be part of the process when applying for certain jobs, and feeling unsure about those subjects can make the process more difficult..
Learn more about Adult Education and Literacy through Workforce Solutions and connect with Career Pathways to get started.
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