Educational Imbalances Occurring in Adult Education Programs

        The factors that can contribute to an educational imbalance in adult education programs include the environment, the variation of communication skills between students as well as the varying levels of aptitude among students. This is caused by continuing education serving as a vehicle drawing adult students from all backgrounds for reasons ranging from fulfillment of a curiosity or hobby to advancement in terms of employment. Let us discuss each of these factors one by one:

• Environmental 

        There is a tendency between different regions, localities and groups of people to accommodate the needs of their adult students in an equal manner. However, the effect of globalisation has made it possible for a small global village to be created through the use of technology, therefore having more and more older students from diverse backgrounds opting for continuing education. When a variety of viewpoints, cultures and ways of life clash in a classroom for adult students, the resulting environment will cause an educational imbalance which will hinder learning. Whether this will be a detriment or a source of strength depends on the educator, the program being followed and the school's overall attitude in dealing with this situation.

• Communication Skills 

         Each person has has own communication style and needs, which is also another factor for educational imbalance and will need to be addressed in the classroom. The learning style of adults is different from those of children because adult learning can only start once adults feel comfortable enough to communicate with their teachers and fellow students.

• Levels of Ability 

         Adults also have different levels of abilities and bring different kinds of talent into the classroom. When this is combined with communication issues and environmental factors, the resulting educational imbalances will become not only more pronounced, it will also create a tense atmosphere in activities such as classroom discussion or group projects.