EDUC – 4303 Adolescence to Adulthood Discussion
Content Review
Directions:
- Respond to each item. Each response should be concise and between 2–3 paragraphs in length.
- Use MS Word to write your responses, and submit your answers to all three questions in one Word document.
- Copy and paste each question into the document, so your Instructor can see which questions you are answering.
- Based on the information presented in “What Works For Older Youth During the Transition to Adulthood” and the Course Media program “Transitioning to Adulthood,” identify and briefly explain three specific challenges adolescents might face as they transition to adulthood. Then, describe at least three specific strategies or programs that professionals might implement to help ease the transition.
- Describe recent trends in unemployment among adolescents. Then, identify and explain two potential long-term consequences of unemployment among adolescents.
- Describe three characteristics of what Jeffrey Arnett has deemed “emerging adulthood.” Then, describe two reasons why older adolescents might pass through a stage of “emerging adulthood” rather than enter directly into adulthood.
Discussion: Easing the Transition
For many adolescents, the transition from adolescence to adulthood is fraught with excitement but also challenges. As the Learning Resources indicate, recent studies show that college freshmen are currently experiencing record levels of stress and many teens arrive at college ill-prepared for its rigors, academic and otherwise. In this week’s video program “ Jillian’s Story,” Jillian relates first-hand her struggles and challenges in transitioning to college and becoming more independent. In this Discussion, you will consider how the transition from high school to college, and ultimately, from adolescence to adulthood, might be eased. Reflect on the following: With these thoughts in mind, follow the instructions below to post your response to this Discussion topic.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Jillian’s story [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Post a description of three strategies or programs that you think professionals who work with adolescents might implement to better prepare teens to handle the academic, financial, and social challenges of college life. Describe one idea for each of the three areas (academic, financial, and social) and briefly explain what it would entail and why you think it would be effective. Be sure to use the Learning Resources to support your thinking.
Assignment: Linking Trends and Issues Through Research
To begin this assignment, choose one specific trend or issue relating to adolescent health OR adolescent family/peer relationships. It can be one that you studied in this course or it can be another issue or trend of interest to you. Using the Walden Library and/or Internet/print resources, locate a recent article or research study that draws a connection between your chosen trend/issue and the larger world as it affects adolescents, specifically technology/media influences (e.g. media use, cyberbullying, etc.) or issues related to the transition to adulthood.
After you have chosen the article, write a 3- to 4-page summary and analysis of the article that includes responses to the following questions:
- What specific connection(s) does the article draw between your chosen health or relationship trend/issue and a trend/issue related to the larger world? Provide a brief summary.
- Do these findings surprise you or confirm what you already suspected? Explain.
- What are the implications of these findings for practice in schools, homes, youth programs, etc.? Identify and describe at least two specific implications, including at least one for professionals who work with adolescents in a setting of your choice.
- Do you think further research is needed? If so, why, and what kind? If not, why not?
