Adult learners often have more activities than traditional students, such as children, existing jobs and households to manage. A definite telltale sign of an adult learner is his improved, organized use of time. These learners will be on time to group activities and will become upset if others are late. They often have their day planned and organized. Time is valuable to them and they may become agitated if classes or meetings run late.
Traditional learners often look to adults for direction in a school career, while older learners are more self-directed. Adult learners will set specific goals for course completion and set both short- and long-term, realistic goals. Adult learners are able to discuss direction in a self-motivated manner, using phrases such as, "I will do..." instead of "My parents will help me do... ."
According to Roger Hiemstra, professor of adult education at Syracuse University, and coauthor of "Individualizing Instruction," adults do not have less emotion than children, they just know how to hide their emotions better. Adult learners will exhibit an appearance of "having it all together," when their reality is the emotional need for more support. Adult learners have experienced more obstructions to education and career advancement than their younger counterparts, so their emotional needs within education are greater. Adult learners will often be seen speaking to the professor before or after class to satisfy an emotional need to feel successful.
Adult learners are better able to accept that the grade they receive is the grade they have earned. While they will argue over a bad grade with a professor, their arguments will be centered around ways to improve their work on a personal level, rather than laying blame for the grade on individuals or occurrences outside themselves. Adult learners tend to internalize actions rather than look to others for blame, as a traditional student might tend to do. Age and maturity are factors in responsibility acceptance, so not all adult or traditional learners will fall neatly into these descriptions.