Introduction
Many scholars have described the periods that human beings go through in their life between birth and eventual death. Adulthood is one of these stages. Erick Eriksonin is among the researchers who described the stage in the bid to show its relevance in relation to the other phases of psychosocial development in humans (Bryant, 1995). Adult learners have special needs that are compatible with those of individuals of their age. The challenges faced by these individuals determine the rates at which they integrate what they learn.
These individuals are described as having methods of learning that are different from those of teenagers or children (Troll, 1975). Several social, emotional, and environmental factors such as age, health, and their ability to comprehend affect how they learn. These factors should be considered in any program that offers education to adult learners.
This paper is a case study of one of the adults in the middle adulthood. The study incorporates some of the developmental theories and the expected learning behaviors as discussed by different authors and in class. The individual selected for the cases study is a 42-year-old Mohammed Abubaker who is a close friend currently in his second year of study at the Amity University in Dubai.
Some of the issues discussed include physical characteristics and the needs of adult learners, the intellectual ability that he exhibits, and the support systems in place including family and his experiences at the organization. The organization in which he studies will also be discussed upon taking into account the policies in place to assist such learners of his age.
Physical Needs and Characteristics
Mohammed is a 42-year-old adult living in Dubai. Currently, he is doing hospitality studies in the Amity University of Dubai. He is a lean, tall, and brown individual with a well-kept brown beard. He is usually on a cap and has a long hair when he is not wearing the cap. He is also well built although he has a scar on the left cheek. Mohammed is married, with two children who are currently in lower grades in primary school. He usually likes wearing bright colored clothing, specifically suites.
Mohammed attended the local nursery school at his local home before he moved to Dubai where he has lived for most of his life. He also attended lower grades in Dubai where he was an avid reader before putting a hold on his education after high school to pursue other interests.
His family is well educated. His father has a degree in land economics while his mother is currently a nurse. The elder brother is also an engineer who owns an engineering firm in downtown Dubai. However, the sibling sisters got married before completing their education, and did not proceed with their education after their marriage.
There is currently no family member perusing education at each level. Mohammed described that the siblings and older brother enjoyed schooling where they demonstrated similar attitudes at different levels. They were always disciplined. They usually performed well in their respective schools, with the elder brother performing remarkably well in high school where he ended up getting a scholarship to university to do engineering.
Learning Goals and Intellectual Ability
Mohammed states that he did not consider education important before he decided to go back to school. He now thinks that it is crucial in his current endeavors. The importance of education for him is in his career. He states that he has seen a different treatment at the workplace for those who are educated and those who are not.
He also states that the reason he decided to continue with his education is that he was seeking promotion at the workplace so that he can later start work at his own business enterprise that he plans to develop. He also states that his family encouraged him to continue with his education. One of the members who emphasized this crucial plan is his elder brother.
Some of the problems that he describes to have gone through in the course of his studies include the limited time. He has to alternate between studies and the workplace responsibilities. The other problem is the limited time that he has for the family now that he has to allocate more time to his studies. The family members are supportive of his decision to proceed with education.
His sisters encourage him to work hard. The wife and children are also supportive. Mohammed states that the biggest challenge he had was convincing children that he has to go back to school and making them understand that it was necessary and that he would not be attending their school.
Mohammed is studying for a B.Sc. in hotel management with this course going for a period of three years. He chose it because of love for the hospitality industry that he has developed when working in a hotel in Dubai. He expects that he will be promoted after the end of the course to manage the kitchen in this hotel. He also expects that the salary will improve, thus standing a better chance of taking care of his family and start his own café or a hotel later. Currently in the second year, Mohammed has one year left in the three-year program.
He describes the other students in the course as being younger and mainly female. He states that most of them come to the course to further their education, with a number of them displaying a passion for the program. One has to demonstrate an ability to perform the basic tasks in the program. He or she must have paid the fees before admission.
However, the board is responsible for admissions. Besides, it determines who will be admitted based on the person’s academic credentials and ability to raise the required fees. Those who do not get the program here have the option of doing it in the many other colleges in Dubai.
He states that the units are not hard. In fact, one of them involves kitchen management, with the other being a cooking class. Mohammed enjoys all classes, and considers all of them easy based on his experience at the workplace. The assignments are also easy. He can use a computer since computer classes are being offered once a week in the program.
Some of the other services gotten from the course include job preparation. Mohammed describes teachers as being helpful, with all of them being qualified in their respective fields. Some of the changes he suggests to the program include the introduction of distance learning where one can learn at home.
Support Systems
There are a number of support systems in place for Mohammed both at the learning institutions and at home. He states that his family members have been compassionate since he enrolled on the program. They often encourage him when he has exams. The family also understands the process he is going through.
As a result, they have reduced the responsibilities that he had at home so that he can focus on his studies. The other support systems that are in place are mostly in the school. Mohammed states that he has a number of friends in class with whom he discusses the class work and notes before exams.
The class also has a number of people of his age. He does not feel lonely or segregated. The school’s organization is also supportive. It offered to introduce him to the school grounds and welcome him when he first attended the school. The other support system is at the workplace. Several colleagues are supportive of his move to go back to school. The management at the hotel he works in has also supported him. He has been allowed to work for fewer hours so that he can attend the evening classes.
Education Organization attended
The education institution that Mohammed attends is Amity University Dubai, which is a private organization with its roots in India. An Indian businessperson owns the institution. The foundation offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and post-graduate degrees, with examples being bachelor of hotel management, bachelor of architecture, and BBA in tourism management. The enrollment in the university is not sex and age dependent.
Any individual who has completed lower levels of education can attend. The institution also enrolls students of all races and nationalities. The institution requires that students speak in English since all lessons are in English. Therefore, it is a requirement that students display proficiency in languages. The other requirement is that students need to have scored a minimum aggregate of 50% in Grade X and Grade XII.
There are 43 students in Mohammed’s class, with different numbers being in the other programs. The payment for the particular program that he is doing is 35,000 US dollars per year. Students are expected to have cleared this amount at the beginning of the year. They are also required to abide by the school rules, which dictate the school’s policies.
The university campus is located along academic city road, DIAC, Block-10, Ground Floor, in Dubai, UAE, opposite Silicon Technology Towers. The Telephone number is: +9714 4554 900, with the Fax being: +9714 4356 810 and email: [email protected]
Positives and Negatives of being involved in Learning at this Age
Learning in the middle age has a number of challenges and opportunities that are not present in most of the other age groups. At this stage of development, people are expected to have finished school and currently taking care of their families and other responsibilities (Schaie, 1983). Adults at this level of development have fewer expectations of the future compared to other age groups. They are not expected in some classes such as undergraduate classes (Bentley, 2007).
At this period of their lives, the positives of learning include the better motivation since such individuals feel self-motivated (Brookfield, 1986). The other positive of learning at this stage of life is the ability of one to sustain his or herself since people of this category usually have enough money since they are often employed (Brookfield, 1986).
However, the negatives include the abundant responsibility that individuals are expected to have and the little time to perform them. There are expectations from family. Therefore, they are expected to be engaged in continuous employment.
Reference List
Bentley, E. (2007). Adulthood. London: Routledge.
Brookfield, S. (1986). Understanding and facilitating adult learning: a comprehensive analysis of principles and effective practices. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Bryant, S. (1995). Adult Learning; Motivating Adults and Developing Motivational Activities. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Schaie, W. (1983). Longitudinal studies of adult psychological development. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Troll, E. (1975). Early and middle adulthood: the best is yet to be–maybe. Monterey, Calif.: Brooks/Cole Pub. Co.