21st Century Approach To Adult Education
Adult education is an often neglected or relegated realm; noted in my course, and elsewhere, as “the poor cousin of education”. It is either viewed as being a luxury for those with idle time or a chore for those in need of improved life opportunities. In truth, it is an important aspect of a satisfying existence for everyone. Humans have evolved to evolve, and allowing the journey of learning to continue throughout life benefits those who choose to do so in myriad ways. From higher self-esteem to career advancement, the motivations for participation are as varied as the participants themselves.
It may go without saying, but adult learners differ from students engaged in formal education. While the latter are largely free to pursue education as their primary focus, adults must balance a variety of responsibilities and priorities. They can, and should, be partners in their learning to a greater extent and have expectations of their learning experience that must be taken into greater account. They are typically choosing to partake in the process and have an option to walk away from it that is not afforded to younger learners.
It is, therefore, incumbent upon adult educators to work with their learners in more cooperative ways that foster an exchange, rather than a dissemination, of course content. Educational theory for younger learners is also moving in this direction, but the contrast remains. Educators and learners must often establish a balance of respect that transcends other societal hierarchies. Navigating a course incorporating traditional teaching practices and more modern learning paradigms that respects the lived experience of learners is key to meeting learners where they are and facilitating progress.
Adult education can be seen through the lens of a drive toward social justice and equity. Those who have learned to learn and to think critically about that learning have a distinct advantage in life. Participants in adult learning contexts have often fallen through the cracks of formal education in their youths and may have lasting biases that make a return to a classroom challenging. They may also have discovered that their earlier education is not sufficient for their current aspirations. The opportunity for personal and professional development engendered by a lifetime of learning can create positive ripples for both individuals and communities.
I take pride in my role helping adults achieve their educational goals and value opportunities to pursue my own. To that end, I participated in a week-long training course focused on adult education through the Erasmus+ program in August 2021 in Pula, Croatia. We explored roles in AE, theories and theorists of AE, and learned about various contexts in which AE occurs around the EU. I created and delivered a session on teaching using questions and identifying and exploiting opportunities for micro-teaching.
A. Keaton, IH Bratislava
Pula, Croatia
Erasmus+ info
