The demographic characterisitcs of adult learners have an affect on how adults learn. Age plays a big role, knowing age tells someone a lot more than just how many years they have been alive. Age can clue to how mature an individual is and how experienced they may be. Both of which are uge for tailoring a lesson to an individual. Another factor is gender. Females learn different than males and they both react differently as well. One of the last categories in considering demographics is language and background. How and what language people speak along with their past experiences grealy influences how they learn and the past also shapes what their new experiences will be.
Adults in general learn much differently than a child in school. Most adults are in a classroom by choice. Their parents aren't making them go to school and they usually dont absolutely despise the subject in which they are studying. This can make it much easier for an instructor and in some instances harder. The motivation in an adult learner is usually there and there is no need for the instructor to provide it. The characteristics that make it harder are complex backgrounds, emotional development and experiences. All these combined along with the different type of cognitive styles and learning methods make teaching adults much different from children.
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