Education Commons^™

Exploring The Grit Narrative Through Andragogy: Implications For Adult Education, Jennifer L. Pemberton, Ted Mccadden

Adult Education Research Conference

An exploration of the intersection of andragogy and the grit narrative serves to position grit in the adult education literature and considers the unsuitability of this ideology for adult learners.

The Learning Projects Of Municipal Elected Officials, Rebecca Campbell Smeltzer

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory study was to describe the learning projects related to the governmental role of a selected sample of elected municipal officials in a geographic region of a Southeastern state. The study includes the revision of Tough’s (1975) learning projects interview schedule and the addition of eight demographic items.

Participants were selected by using a random number generator to choose 12 cities from seven population groups, creating a stratified sample of 68 elected officials, 41 of whom agreed to be interviewed. Demographic information revealed that the participants were a mix of mayors (26.8%), vice-mayors (19.5%), and city …

Self-Directed Learning In The Workplace: Implications For The Legislation Of Trade Union Education In South Korea, Jeong Rok Oh, Cho Hyun Park

Adult Education Research Conference

The purpose of this study is to theorize self-directed learning (SDL) in the workplace from the perspectives of human resource development (HRD), adult education (AdEd), and lifelong learning in order to suggest the implications for the legislation of trade union education (TUE) in South Korea. Since legislation at the national level can promote workers‘ participation in TUE in the context of SDL for industrial democracy through humanization of education, the South Korean government should provide trade unions with appropriate legislative, financial, and administrative support. Keywords: self-directed learning, trade union education, adult education.

A Holy Curiosity: Transformative Self-Directed Learning To Breakthrough New Knowledge In The Case Of Einstein, Deanna Lynn Vogt

Dissertations

The case of Einstein’s discovery of the relativity theory, explored with grounded theory methodology, illustrates a type of self-directed learning characterized by personal and non-personal, or technical, transformative learning, the result of which is iconic original, breakthrough learning. This dissertation explores three aspects of adult learning which are novel in adult education.

First, this study of breakthrough process, for which there is only one apparent precedent in adult education, considers how an individual goes about a self-directed learning project that revolutionizes a field. In this regard, the concept of original learning, as opposed to transmitted learning, presents itself as a …

Learning Lives With/In Digital Media: Emergence Of Online Economy Disputants In The Midst Of Economic Crisis In South Korea, Dae Joong Kang, Seon Joo Choi, Seunghyeop Lee

Adult Education Research Conference

This study aims to understand adult online informal learning illuminating a way of becoming an influential social figure. We interviewed five famous online economy disputants whose postings were very popular in Korea during the global financial crisis in 2008-2009. We explored how they learned and found that their self-directedness interplayed with the context of other- directedness, a sense of being stimulated and indebted enhanced their learning process, and dynamics of anonymity and social recognition were keys to their emergence.

Characteristics Beyond In/Formality Of Ways Of Learning For Work: A Case Of Knowledge-Intense, Geographically-Distributed Learning, Carrie P. Hunter

Adult Education Research Conference

Pharmaceutical-sales is a knowledge-intense, highly competitive and rapidly changing industry employing a geographically distributed workforce. The varied ways in which agents in this industry continue to learn for work are presented and examined. A framework is developed and employed for exploring and reporting fundamental characteristics of ways of learning beyond designation of in/formality. Findings include the importance of peer-learning for non-co-located peers, the identification of intentional incidental learning, and a non-traditional role for workplace learning in a knowledge-intense and competitive environment.

The Relationships Of Learning Style Balance And Learning Dimensions To Self-Directed Learning Propensity Among Adult Learners, Sarah Tullos Hutto

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of learning style characteristics to self-directed learning propensity among adult learners. The learning style characteristics investigated were learning style balance as measured by a scoring method developed by Mainemelis, Boyatzis, and Kolb (2002) and learning style dimensions as measured by the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (LSI). The Oddi Continuous Learning Instrument (OCLI) was used to measure self-directed learning propensity. A questionnaire was used to collect descriptive information about the participants for age, gender, years of professional work experience, and graduate degree program in the categories of business, education, health, and …

The Role Of Self-Directed Learning In Older Adults’ Health Care, Janet S. Valente

Adult Education Research Conference

This descriptive study expands the understanding of the impact of self-directed learning (SDL) on older adults’ health care. Findings reveal motivating and controlling factors that influence learners, identifies a SDL process specific to health care, offers insights into the perceptions older adults’ hold, and barriers they encounter.

“It Permeates The Whole Fabric Of Your Life”: The Experience Of Scholars Who Have Studied Self-Directed Learning, Robert C. Donaghy

Adult Education Research Conference

A recent dissertation presented a new and different view of self-directed learning. This research presents the stories of eight scholars who have studied this topic over the years. Implications for research and practice are discussed.