Using the Experiences of Nontraditional Students in the Classroom

It is not uncommon for older, “nontraditional” students to enroll in the management principles course either as a requirement for an undergraduate degree or as a prerequisite for the MBAdegree. Yet many of these nontraditional students arrive in the classroom with significant levels of work experience. As a result, it becomes difficult to simultaneously engage both traditional and nontraditional students. This article will describe a semester-long exercise that was developed to more fully use students' experience base in the learning experience. Very positive reactions from students suggest that both types of students benefited.