A Study on Facilitating Learning for Nontraditional Graduate Students

本研究的目的是调查(a)非传统学生的特点和学习风格，(b)教师对非传统学生及其教学风格的看法，以及c如何有效地促进非传统学生。从广岛大学非传统学生和教师回答的两类问卷中收集必要的数据。结果表明：(1)与传统学生相比，非传统学生进入研究生课程的目标更广泛，动机更强。(2)就学习方式而言，非传统学生愿意在学习活动中采取主动。但对教育成果的评价不适用于此。教师们普遍承认大学需要向非传统学生开放。然而，到目前为止，大多数教师似乎还坚持传统的大学教学模式。(5)更糟糕的是，教师往往对非传统学生的特殊感受漠不关心，不承认学习中的“情境障碍”。(6)为了给非传统学生安排合适的学习环境，教师不仅要学习教学技巧，还要学习“成人”和成人学习理论。

The purpose of this study is to investigate (a) characteristics and learning styles of non-traditional students, (b) teachers' perception of non-traditional students and their teaching styles, and c how to facilitate non-traditional students effectively. The necessary data were collected from two types of questionnaire answered by non-traditional students and teachers in Hiroshima university.The following results were obtained :(1) Comparing with traditional students, non-traditional students have entered graduate courses with a wide variety of aims and stronger motivation.(2) Concerning their learning styles, non-traditional students are willing to take initiatives in learning activities. Provided that the same shall not apply to evaluation of educational results.(3) Teachers generally admit that university need to be open for non-traditional students.(4) However, most of teachers seem to stick to traditional mode of university teaching as yet.(5) To make matter worse, teachers are apt to be indifferent toward peculiar feelings of non-traditional student, and not to acknowledge 'situational barriers' to learning.(6) In order to arrange proper learning environment for non-traditional students, teachers must learn not only teaching techniques, but also 'adulthood' and adult learning theory.