The interview was with an assistant professor of mathematics at a community college who has 15 years of experience teaching adult learners. Their teaching philosophy follows a liberal arts approach with a focus on ensuring students learn key skills. While they primarily use a lecture-based method, they are exploring incorporating programmed instruction software into courses. The biggest challenges they face are students lacking preparation in math and study skills from high school, which often leads to poor attendance and failure of courses.

1. INTERVIEW WITH A PROFESSIONAL TEACHER
OF ADULT LEARNERS
Sasha Oruaga

2. ABOUT THE INTERVIEWEE
 Assistant Professor of Mathematics at a Community
College.
 Master’s Degree in Mathematics

3. HOW LONG HAVE YOU TAUGHT ADULT LEARNERS?
 I have taught math at the Community College for 15
years.

4. WHAT IS YOUR TEACHING PHILOSOPHY?
 In Mathematics it is important that the skill sets be
learned. I follow the Liberal Arts philosophy.

5. DID YOU FIND ANY USE OF TEACHING METHODS
DIFFERENT THAN YOUR OWN?
 I use the lecture method, but I am investigating using
programmed instruction as the college is using Hawkes
Learning software for the remedial courses. I don’t know
how effective it would be for upper level credit math
courses.

6. WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOUR TEACHING METHOD ACCOMMODATES
ALL STUDENTS WITH DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES?
 Lecture works best with auditory learners, but I do a lot of
work on the white board so students can see the math
problems. I think the student should learn to adjust
his/her learning style to match the instructor’s teaching
style. I am a content-specialist and have not had any
teaching methods courses. I teach the way I was taught.

7. WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR
POSITION?
 The most challenging aspect is the lack of math
preparation of students learning high school. The
students are not college-ready in math or study skills. The
lack of attendance in the classroom makes many students
fail the course.

8. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW INSTRUCTORS?
 My advice would be to know your content without
question. Use other professors as mentors.

9. SUMMARY
 There is a connection between the interview and what we
are currently learning. In regards to teaching philosophy;
we all had to take an assessment to determine our
teaching philosophies. The professor in the interview
stated that his philosophy is liberal arts adult education
and he lectures. Galbraith (2004) explained the 5
philosophies and by doing so explained the liberal arts
adult education philosophy. Lectures is a method of the
liberal arts philosophy.
 Also, Hawkes learning systems is specifically available for
math software and textbooks.

10. SUMMARY CONTINUED…
 My personal experience with college-level math was a good
one due to earning an A; however, other young and old adult
learners, who are not going into medicine or engineering,
questions the need for a math course. “Adults need to know
why they need to learn something” (Knowles, 1984, cited in
Merriam et al., 2007, p. 84). The reason math is needed is to
enhance analytical thinking and critical thinking. Since this is
not stated to students and they are told they need the course
to graduate, the result is as the associate professor stated in
the interview, “The students are not college-ready in math or
study skills. The lack of attendance in the classroom makes
many students fail the course” (July 2014). The students do not
take math serious if they know that advance math would not be
an aspect of their future career.

11. REFERENCES
 Galbraith, M. W. (2004). Adult Learning Methods (3rd
Ed.). Malabar, FL: Krieger Publishing Company.
 Merriam, S. B., Caffarella, R. S., & Baumgartner, L. M.
(2007). Learning in Adulthood: A comprehensive
guide(3rd Ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
 Hawkes Learning Systems. (2014). Retrieved from
Company History:
http://www.hawkeslearning.com/AboutUs/CompanyHist
ory.htm