EXPLORING AGE INTEGRATION IN THE UNIVERSITY CLASSROOM: MIDDLE AGE AND YOUNGER STUDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL MOTIVES AND INSTRUCTIONAL PREFERENCES

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Abstract
A sample of 141 predominately working class middle age (X = 53.03 years; SD = 6.92) and young adult (X = 21.34 years; SD = 3.65) university students responded to a survey instrument that assessed motives for enrolling in university classes and reactions to instructional strategies commonly used in the classroom. Results indicated that middle age and younger students’ motives for enrolling in university classes were intrinsic in nature and based on needs for intellectual growth and self‐development. In addition, findings revealed that younger students viewed learning life adjustment skills as a more powerful motivator for pursuing advanced education than did middle age students (p < .01). Both age groups of students were found to have similar attitudes about the effectiveness of teaching techniques presently used in the university classroom. Middle age and younger students reported positive reactions to the use of hands‐on‐experiences, lectures with discussions, and the lecture‐only format and negative reactions to the use of student presentations and role playing. It was concluded that the findings of this study supported the design of age‐integrated university programs and suggested that much of the present curricula satisfies the educational goals and needs of middle age and younger students.