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Even if one did not manage to complete high school – for whatever reason – adult learning classes are becoming increasingly accessible.  No matter how “old” one is, they are never too old to get an education.  From practical, vocational studies to the more academic ones, institutions around the world are offering adult learning opportunities, irrespective of age, skill, background, etc.

Often such programs take place in what is known as an “extension” school or a “school of continuing education.”  One advantage adult students have over their childhood counterparts is their life experience.  Bringing this into the classroom gives the environment a whole added dimension. Plus, given that – at least in most cases – adults are choosing to be educated (rather than being forced as is the case with children), they are often more open to sucking up knowledge from the classroom.  Or, they are extremely excited to be able to pick up a new skill in the classroom that can help them in the workforce.

At the end of the day, one can never be too old to learn.  Indeed, according to The Daily Mail in July of 2008, war veteran Colonel Michael Cobb, of Plymtree, Devon, was said to have been the oldest person (to date) to get a PhD by creating an atlas which records and maps the railway stations built in Britain between 1807 and 1994.

If you are interested in continuing your learning well after your college years, there are many opportunities in the States for you to do so. One such opportunity, for instance, is with the University System of Georgia’s (USG) Adult Learner website. They have 13 USG campuses as part of the Adult Learning Consortium (http://www.georgiaonmyline.org/adultlearner). Here, they focus on adult learners who want to pursue their college degree. The Georgia OnmyLine website allows these learners access to courses and degree programs.

A few of the universities that are involved in this program include: Armstrong Atlantic State University, Columbus State University, Dalton State College, Gordon State College, University of North Georgia and more. Their online college, as they explain, “gives you incredible flexibility. While you’re still held to the same high standards as on-campus students, you can study when and where it’s convenient for you, which is a huge draw — especially for adult learners. No matter where you live, as long as you have a reliable Internet connection, you can access your course materials and assignments. This opens up a whole new world of learning experiences and degree options for adult learners.”

You won’t have to cram into a small room, sit on stacking chairs and listen to a lecture at a certain time. With their program, you can do the courses from the comfort of your own home and that are uniquely created for the adult learner. Their degree programs are aligned with workforce needs and include areas such as healthcare, law enforcement, business and more.

'There is a rich literature and experience in adult learning stretching back for a hundred years' http://t.co/Cq6g3Nb6Qw

— WEA adult education (@WEAadulted) October 23, 2013

Mary Roller of Rushville, Indiana, has been working with adults and adult education since her graduation from college in 1978. At that time Mary went to work with seniors, helping to found Shelby Senior Services in Shelbyville, a non-profit organization. Mary stayed with them until 1985, when she married and had a child. Her break from the work-force lasted nine years.

When she returned to full-time employment in 1994 Mary became an educator with the Rush County Soil and Water District. She was concurrently a science teacher with the Rush County Schools at the elementary school level.

Mary made another career change in 2005 when she went to work for the Community Education Coalition in Connersville. After four years with the coalition Mary took on the job that she has today, manning the reception desk at the Ivy Tech Cooperative as the site manager.

Mary has always been determined to expand the horizons of people of every age and type. The way she sees it, education is a synonym for opportunity. Because of her unique and varied background Mary is uniquely positioned to help grow the local adult education program in Rushville, helping to make an impact on the next generation.

“It’s all about education. Everything I‘ve done has been about education in one form or another, and hopefully it is a process that we never stop. Life-long learning is just that, if we don’t learn we stagnate,” Mary said.

“There are so many more educational opportunities now. We have students as young as 17 and up to 73 currently enrolled. There is formal learning. There are informal learning credit classes, non-credit classes – thanks in large part to the internet,” she added.

Mary explained that she sees her job at Ivy Tech as helping people transition from being out of the world of education to getting back into it, even after many years.

“I often tell people in my office, that they have already made the most difficult decision about furthering their education, they walked through my door,” Mary said with a smile.

Learn about Malcolm Knowles’ theory of androgogy, or adult learning. Whether the learning is done in a classroom, complete with school furniture, on a computer or while on-the-go, adults learn and absorb information differently than children. Knowles’ brought fourth six assumptions about adult learners: