Teaching the Adult Student

I am teaching English 111 for Ivy Tech this semester. It's the first time I have taught an academic class. The majority of my fifteen students are adult learners. They have some distance from their prior writing class. I had them write a short essay "My Writing Experience" in class. The students expressed a general dislike for writing, and often spoke of bad experiences in the past. Most felt they were poor writers, while others couldn't see the point in taking a writing class. All the students hoped their attitude and ability to write would improve by taking this class.
I know that adult students learn differently than traditional students. They respond more favorably to a structured environment where collaborative efforts and textual instructions are emphasized. Adult students respond favorably to concrete examples and individual attention rather than the "sink or swim" approach often presented. I think teachers need to take more responsibility for the success of their students by exercising alternative approaches to teaching, particularily adult student. Adult students respond favorably to individual attention where they feel comfortable expressing themselves privately. Many of these students have been mocked, ridiculed, or embarrassed by their teacher or fellow students in the past. Most adult student wrote of at least one bad experience in an English class.
The vast majority of my students are eager to learn and are receptive to new ideas and techniques. Clustering, brainstorming, and freewriting are examples of idea stimulators that find acceptance with adult learners.