Adult Education Jobs

This area provides information about adult education jobs for teachers including areas of specializations and qualifications required

What is Adult Education

Adult education provides adult instruction in vocational, technical, and adult continuing education. Adult students include those who want to update job skills, learn a new trade, or need to master the basics--reading, writing, and mathematics. Adult education teachers work with students who failed to complete high school or who have spent time in careers that did not require an academic education.

What is an Adult Education teacher

Like traditional teachers, adult education teachers teach lessons according to well-prepared plans. They serve as mentors, motivators, and instructors--working to put nervous adults at ease in the classroom. Adult education teachers use a variety of methods to teach their students. They use lecture, group work, hands-on demonstrations, and individual assignments. They often teach using the following formula: Presentation, student demonstration, feedback, and review. For example, they may show students how construct a PowerPoint presentation and then ask the students to create their own. Once the students have completed the work, adult education teachers provide comments on the work and then review main points in the context or the lesson.

What qualifications do Adult Education Instuctors need?

The qualifications that are needed to become an adult education teacher depend upon the type of course involved. For example, to teach remedial academic subjects taken for college credit, a master’s degree is generally required. Adult education teachers with an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or professional certification may teach skills such as computers, woodworking, or first aid. Adult education teachers must have strong interpersonal skills and an ability to relate to people from a wide variety of economic and cultural backgrounds.

What type of tasks are involved with teaching in adult education?

Adult education instructors plan, teach class, grade work as appropriate, and seek to make learning material applicable to everyday life. They must stay current and informed in course subject matter to maintain their effectiveness and credibility. In the classroom, instructors do the following:

Encourage class participation

Develop student confidence

Earn student trust

Make use of the students’ life experiences to make lessons relevant

Establish an encouraging and comfortable learning environment

Provide constructive feedback

Are there any areas of specialization?

There are many subject areas for adult educators to choose from. Examples of courses taught in adult education settings include:

Word Processing

Basic Math

Foreign languages

Literacy courses

Photography

Computer keyboarding

Public speaking

In addition to specialized subjects, adult educators may choose to focus on distance learning, workplace learning, or research. Instructors may also be called upon to give community presentations, to provide individual tutoring, or to speak at local events.

Who employs adult education teachers?

Community colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, park districts, and residential facilities employ adult education instructors. Adult education teachers can also be found in corporate training departments, job training centers, and churches—any environment where training and education programs have been implemented.