Adult and Continuing Education Administration Commons^™

Older Adults And A Writing Workshop: A Phenomenological Study, Jennifer Lynn Alex

Dissertations

This study examines how older adults experience the phenomenon of participating in a writing workshop and how older adults interpret their experiences, understandings, and realities of writing. Ten older adults, ranging in age from 62 to 83 with varying degrees of experiences in writing, participated in this study. Through a semi-structured interview, each participant related his or her experience first as a writer and then as a member of a writing workshop offered through a Community Literacy Center in a mid-sized Appalachian city.

A phenomenological analysis method was used to identify and analyze themes of meaning that emerged in the …

Emotional Maturity Of Adolescents And Adults In Ged Programs, Billy Joe Riffle

Dissertations

When discussing issues relating to students in General Educational Development (GED) Option and pre-GED programs with educators, the contention exists that it is possible to make reasonably accurate predictions on the success or failure of a student by observing a number of items. Looking at their cumulative records shows their academic and attendance history. Insight is gained by looking at their family dynamics and how they relate to adults. Much can be learned about them from their discipline reports and the nature of any infractions. One of the most intriguing aspects gained through experience and observation is the perception of …

“Presidential Perceptions On The Future Of Higher Education Administration Programs: Implications For Curriculum”, Sydney Freeman Jr.

Sydney Freeman Jr., PhD, CFD

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Strategies Used By Organizations Participating In The Welfare-To-Work Network Programs And Correlation Of The Strategies With The Retention Data To Determine Best Practices For Job Retention Among Former Welfare Recipients., Pauline J. Smith

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This ex post facto study (N = 209) examined the relationships between employer job strategies and job retention among organizations participating in Florida welfare-to-work network programs and associated the strategies with job retention data to determine best practices. An internet-based self-report survey battery was administered to a heterogeneous sampling of organizations participating in the Florida welfare-to-work network program. Hypotheses were tested through correlational and hierarchical regression analytic procedures. The partial correlation results linked each of the job retention strategies to job retention. Wages, benefits, training and supervision, communication, job growth, work/life balance, fairness and respect were all significantly related to …

Women Of African Descent: Persistence In Completing A Doctorate, Vannetta L. Bailey-Iddrisu

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the educational persistence of women of African descent (WOAD) in pursuit of a doctorate degree at universities in the southeastern United States. WOAD are women of African ancestry born outside the African continent. These women are heirs to an inner dogged determination and spirit to survive despite all odds (Pulliam, 2003, p. 337).This study used Ellis’s (1997) Three Stages for Graduate Student Development as the conceptual framework to examine the persistent strategies used by these women to persist to the completion of their studies.

How Employees With Different National Identities Experience A Geocentric Organizational Culture Of A Global Corporation: A Phenomenological Study, Maria S. Plakhotnik

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A global corporation values both profitability and social acceptance; its units mutually negotiate governance and represent a highly interdependent network where centers of excellence and high-potential employees are identified regardless of geographic locations. These companies try to build geocentric, or “world oriented” (Marquardt, 1999, p. 20), organizational cultures. Such culture “transcends cultural differences and establishes ‘beacons’ – values and attitudes – that are comprehensive and compelling” (Kets de Vries & Florent-Treacy, 2002, p. 299) for all employees, regardless of their national origins. Creating a geocentric organizational culture involves transforming each employee’s mindset, beliefs, and behaviors so that he/she can become …

Language Learning Strategy Use By Colombian Adult English Language Learners: A Phenomenological Study, Elsie E. Paredes

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how Colombian adult English language learners (ELL) select and use language learning strategies (LLS). This study used Oxford’s (1990a) taxonomy for LLS as its theoretical framework. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group interview, were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed for 12 Colombian adult ELL. A communicative activity known as strip story (Gibson, 1975) was used to elicit participants’ use of LLS. This activity preceded the focus group session. Additionally, participants’ reflective journals were collected and analyzed. Data were analyzed using inductive, deductive, and comparative analyses. Four themes emerged from the inductive analysis …

Examining The Indian Farmer Suicides Through The Social And Environmental Justice Lens, Yogita Abichandani, Juanita Johnson-Bailey

Adult Education Research Conference

Approximately 200,000 farmers have committed suicide in India over the last decade. A majority of them are the ones who have been failed by the non- yield of genetically modified cotton per hectare and are dependent on these crops for their daily livelihood. The GM cottonseeds represent the hegemony and oppression of the farmers propelled by the globalization movement. This paper provides an understanding that the social movements against the GM seeds are in fact movements pointing towards the social and environmental injustices and seeks to understand the role adult education can play in addressing the social and environmental injustice.

G.E.D In 3 Voices: Reconsidering What We Perceive As “Deficits”, C. Amelia Davis

Adult Education Research Conference

In this research, I experiment re-presenting particular stories through poetic texts that contextualize and capture rich detail while honoring difference in experience between GED students and instructors. Drawing upon the evocative and consequential nature of performative writing I attempt to weave images through meaning, inviting readers to fill in the gaps, noting places where they are pushed to spaces that are difficult to fully understand or interpret.

Dueling Clocks: How Academic Women Balance Childcare With The Road To Tenure, Erin Careless

Adult Education Research Conference

This proposed study looks at the experience of academic women as they combine the demanding roles of motherhood and academic seeking tenure. Literature has identified several themes related to role-balancing: social and gender roles/expectations, time limitations of tenure and childrearing years, available support, ambiguous policies, and personal expectations (Armenti, 2004; Ward & Wolf-Wendel, 2004; Young & Wright, 2001). Data will be obtained using narrative inquiry, and examined through a critical feminist perspective. Individuals representing both academics and those employed in the policy sector will be interviewed, with the aim of assisting in the adaptation of university-based policy for academics. Introduction

Media Literacy As An Inquiry-Based Framework For Exploring Desocialization, Iris Metzgen-Ohlswager

Adult Education Research Conference

Our educational landscape is dramatically changing; youth and adults have access to more information than ever before in history. As a world we have embraced technology with open arms, but rarely have reflected on its implications or actively educated people on how to deconstruct the endless stream of messages. Media literacy or the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media, and can be used as an inquiry-based framework for exploring desocialization in the classroom, community, or workplace.

“It’S The Physical Versus The Emotional”: Using Poetics To Re-Present The Power Of Art In The Nursing Clinical Experience, Carrie Bailey, C. Amelia Davis

Adult Education Research Conference

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to consider how the use of art in the post-clinical experience could broaden nursing students’ perceptions of holistic care, utilizing reflective practice and arts-based resources to increase their awareness of comprehensive patient care. Arts-based education research served as a useful curriculum tool for deep reflection in clinical nursing students’ experiences. Keeping with the tenor of arts-based research, we used poetic re-presentations as a means of maintaining students’ voices in this work. Reflections not only spanned the care provided but looked closely at patient relationships through analysis of their own clinical practice.

Fostering A Literate U.S. Workforce: Perspectives Of Adult Educators In Human Resource Development, Merlissa C. Alfred

Adult Education Research Conference

Organizations are faced with increasing demands for a highly literate and skilled workforce. Investments in basic literacy and skills training are required to effectively address these organizational needs. The purpose of this study was to investigate Human Resource Development’s role in investing in and developing the segment of the US workforce that lacks the basic literacy and skills needed to participate in the employment arena.

Roundtable: Exposing Shadow Culture For Transformative Learning, Christian Avalon

Adult Education Research Conference

Discussion will be based from the proposed transformative learning framework lesson materials to determine 1) whether a critical event can be expected from material exposure; 2) how long disorientation is likely to ensue based on previous knowledge; and 3) best classroom techniques to manage individuals’ transformative learning needs within group instruction. Instruction materials include historical timelines, extent of exposure around the world, and sketches of prime examples for comparison and are structured as an observation inquiry project for learners to determine the prevalence of astrology as a socially constructed shadow culture influence.

Laughter Doeth Learning Good Like A Medicine, Celia Farr

Adult Education Research Conference

Laughter and its significant benefits lower the affective filter in any learning environment. The release of laughter reduces perceived learning difficulties and lowers learning anxieties which are commonly found in the adult-learner classroom. With the introduction of appropriately-sensitive humor to the classroom, students forge a solid and personal foundation– upon which they can better build the scaffolding for present and future learning experiences. The role of humor and laughter in the adult-learner’s classroom not only enhances the overall learning experience, it also aids in retention of knowledge.

Adult Learning Models For Translational Health Research: Bench, Bedside, And Communities, Linda Ziegahn

Adult Education Research Conference

The intent of translational health research is to bridge the longstanding gaps between laboratory research and the people who are the intended beneficiaries of the resulting discoveries. Models from the field of adult education, particularly experiential and transformative learning approaches, can be useful in developing theory for the learning processes that occur when scientists, health practitioners, and community members collaborate around the identification, implementation, and evaluation of research projects aimed at improving health for everyone.

The Power Of Cliques, Friendships, And Social Networks In Strengthening Adult Basic Education Student Persistence And Retention, Jeff Zacharakis

Adult Education Research Conference

This issue of student persistence and retention continues to plague most adult learning centers. This paper develops a theoretical perspective that uses social capital and network theory to explain why some students succeed in an ABE/GED program and go on to pursue post-secondary education and why some do not.

Class, Popular Culture, And The Academy: Critical Comments Of Scholars From The Working-Class, Robin Redmon Wright

Adult Education Research Conference

Twenty-five self-identified working-class scholars were interviewed about their life histories in an effort to understand their career choice. Participants credited the incidental and informal learning they received from consuming film, television shows, popular music, comic books and novels as expanding their world view and instilling a desire to succeed academically.

Math Teachers Come From The Darnedest Places: Adult Learners Becoming Adult Teachers, Gary L. Wright

Adult Education Research Conference

In this qualitative study I sought a better understanding of the experiences of mathematics educators who, prior to engaging with their chosen profession, participated in a developmental mathematics course or program. The purpose was to learn more about (i) the impact of faculty (or institutional) attitudes and behaviors on these individuals and (ii) the factors, inside or outside the classroom, that supported their decisions to pursue careers in academia.

Community Service Learning: Perspectives From Adult Education, Pierre Walter

Adult Education Research Conference

This paper positions Community Service Learning (CSL) within traditions of adult education, examines related work on international CSL, transformative learning and social justice in higher education, and briefly considers a CSL initiative at a major research university. It concludes with suggestions for further research on CSL in adult education.

Adult Learning In Community-Based Ecotourism, Pierre Walter

Adult Education Research Conference

This paper examines the sites, processes and curriculum of adult learning in community-based ecotourism (CBE). It compares different forms of CBE; elaborates on community learning for capacity building, on the ecotourism curriculum, and on learning processes; and identifies areas in need of further research.

Educational And Mothering Discourses And Learner Goals: Mexican Immigrant Women Enacting Agency In A Family Literacy Program, Blaire Willson Toso, Esther Prins

Adult Education Research Conference

This paper, using data from a qualitative study, examines how Mexican immigrant women in a family literacy program appropriated mainstream discourses of mothering and parent involvement to pursue their personal and academic goals. The paper examines notions of human agency, prevailing parenting and literacy discourses, and learner goals and subjectivities.

Spiritual Development, Paradox, And Wisdom In Adult Educators’ Reflections Ageing, Elizabeth J. Tisdell

Adult Education Research Conference

This paper discusses some of the longitudinal findings of a narrative study of spiritual development and emerging wisdom of women adult educators over a 10 year period.

Communities Of Lifelong Learning [2]: Social Dialogue: Exchanges Shaping Learning Experiences, James E. Thornton, Shauna Butterwick, Thomas Sork

Adult Education Research Conference

Social Dialogues discussed in this paper are the learning exchanges that develop in structured adult learning activities and essential communities of lifelong learning. Social dialogues, Social Justice and Social Territories and Borders (Session 1) are topics essential to the development of communities of lifelong learning. They provide the scaffolding critical to the professional and policy discourses shaping lifelong learning and educational opportunities over the adult life course in diverse social communities of practice.

Hinduism And Adult Learning: Fostering A Mind-Body Connection, Swathi Nath Thaker

Adult Education Research Conference

The Western notions of learning have, and still, dominate the field of adult education, with non-cognitive forms of learning such as somatic learning and spirituality only recently emerging. While much of the Western literature on learning and knowing suggest that the mind and body are split, a number of cultures around the world do not believe in this dichotomy, and Hinduism is no exception. Hinduism, which is said to be over four thousand years old, defines itself according to the Vedas, the most ancient body of religious literature. While much of this content has long been unknown to most Hindus, …

Financial Literacy For Adult Learners In Community-Based Settings: A Mixed Methods Study, Edward W. Taylor, Elizabeth J. Tisdell, Karin Sprow

Adult Education Research Conference

This paper discusses the findings of a mixed method study (282 surveys and 15 interviews) of pedagogical techniques and strategies of financial literacy educators in community based settings.

Cognitive Enrichment Advantage: Applications For An Interdisciplinary Approach To Adult Learning, Jonathan E. Taylor

Adult Education Research Conference

The author proposes that Cognitive Enrichment Advantage (CEA), an approach to mediated learning, may be a strongly beneficial approach in many adult education endeavors and can be successfully adapted to adult learning contexts. Three specific areas in which CEA may be particularly helpful are adult basic education (ABE), Emancipatory education, and workforce development/training. There is some overlap in the ways in which each of these three areas could benefit from the CEA approach but all three domains within adult education could benefit from a closer examination of the overlapping concepts and relevant applications.

Is Complexity Science Embedded In Transformative Learning?, Ann L. Swartz, Karin Sprow

Adult Education Research Conference

This paper discusses evidence that Jack Mezirow’s (1991) seminal work on transformative learning drew heavily from the precursors of complexity science without making the connection explicit, a trend still present in the transformative learning literature. The use of concepts from complexity theory and its interdisciplinary contributors can improve our understanding of transformative learning and its development.

Embodied Learning And Trauma In The Classroom And In Practice, Ann L. Swartz

Adult Education Research Conference

This study sought to understand how RN-BS clinical students learn through their bodies and how these patterns relate to trauma. Use of an experiential, embodied pedagogy led to emergence of embodied connection with self and new patterns of self-care, professional knowledge and action.

Social Innovation: Creating New Business Models For Adult And Continuing Higher Education, Sandria S. Stephenson

Adult Education Research Conference

Using a qualitative approach to inquiry this paper highlights results of a study, which focuses on (1) the current challenges facing continuing higher education (CHE) divisions; (2) how these divisions engage in social and systematic innovation in an effort to foster social responsibility. It demonstrates a model strategy for mitigating the challenges using Drucker’s (1985) eight sources of systematic innovation. CHE divisions will be better prepared to respond to societies’ needs and pursue their mission and that of their parent institutions.