Adult and Continuing Education Commons^™

Cultivating Excellence: The Relationship Between Educator Professional Development And Adult Student Success In Arkansas, Marsha Taylor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study will investigate the relationship between Arkansas adult education teachers' engagement in professional development and their average classroom achievement, as indicated by students' measurable skill gains (MSGs). The study, informed by Dreyfus's (2004) model of skill acquisition, will examine the impact of the quantity of professional development hours, teachers' employment status (full-time or part-time), and the focus of professional development (content versus other domains) on classroom outcomes. Survey data on professional development involvement will be collected from Arkansas adult education teachers using a cross-sectional, regression-based design and subsequently linked to achievement data from the LiteracyPro system. Five hypotheses …

Adult Learners' Perspectives Of Ai Applications In Supporting Andragogy, Jinhee Kim, Xi Lin, Seongryeong Yu, Rita Detrick

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Emerging roles and capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential to support andragogical education and enhance learning experience for adult learners (ALs). However, the effective use of AI to support multifaceted components of andragogy including involvement, experience, problem-centered, relevance remains under explored. Furthermore, research on AI design principles to support ALs and andragogy is limited. This study, therefore, aims to investigate ALs perceptions of AI applications in enhancing andragogy and to explore the essential design principles of AI systems for andragogy. To this end, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 ALs facilitated by 11 scenarios of AI …

Bridging The Digital Divide: Enhancing Digital Literacy In Florida's Ged® Education Program, Nicole Howard-Rice

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This dissertation addressed the critical need for mandated digital literacy courses in Florida's General Educational Development (GED®) programs. As digital skills become increasingly essential for success in education, employment, and daily life, GED® recipients often face significant disadvantages due to a lack of digital proficiency. The findings revealed positive results between digital literacy and employability, emphasizing the transformative potential of integrating digital skills training into GED® curricula. The research highlighted the barriers to acquiring digital skills faced by adult learners, including limited access to technology, varying skill levels, and insufficient instructional support. This study advocated for curriculum updates that align …

A Comparative Study Of Adult Education In China And Japan Under The Background Of Degree Law, Yuchen Chang

SOC 605 Comparative Social Policy Research Project - Student Works

This paper is a comparative study of adult education policies in China and Japan under the background of the academic status Law passed by the 14th People's Congress of China. This paper compares the development history of adult education policies in the two countries from the perspective of historical institutionalism. This paper analyzes and compares the development paths and current policies of adult education in China and Japan, thereby summarizing the similarities and differences between the two. It is concluded that China is in a critical period of transformation in adult education. Both China and Japan have complete adult higher …

Understanding Michigan’S Reconnect Program Applicants, Alexander W. Bartik, Brad J. Hershbein, Brian Jacob, Kevin M. Stange, Bryan A. Stuart, Zhonghan Xie

Reports

No abstract provided.

Movement As Metamorphosis: An Examination Of Transformative Learning In Dance, Whitney Egstad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using the arts-based methodology of Educational Criticism and Connoisseurship (Uhrmacher, Moroye, & Flinders, 2017) to examine the curriculum and pedagogy of a Colorado-based dance studio, this qualitative dissertation explores how transformative learning (TL) unfolds within the context of adult dance education. Grounded in Mezirow’s (1991) theory of transformative learning, the study investigates how dance becomes a medium for personal transformation, identity reconstruction, and emotional healing. Data collection included six hours of interviews with instructors and students and twelve hours of class observations, focusing on how adult learners experience curriculum not just as technical instruction, but as an embodied, relational journey …

Learning And Reskilling To Stay Ahead Amidst Disruption, Havovi Joshi

Asian Management Insights

Reforming adult and continuing education has become a key issue in an era defined by relentless change borne of constant technological advancements. The traditional education paradigm where instructors transfer knowledge to students–often likened to a pen writing on a blank page–is deemed insufficient to meet the needs of the 21st century. As curricula evolve, teachers need to learn new skills and even unlearn outdated ones to serve as mentors and facilitators in the classroom.

“That’S Where I Learned To Be A Good Mommy” Understanding How Adults Learn In A Home Visitation, Community-Based Partnership, Kelli R. Kerbawy

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In higher education, a growing interest exists in fostering partnerships between institutions and community-based programs to enhance the lives of individuals. These initiatives have encompassed a variety of programs, including life skills development and civic engagement opportunities facilitated by academic experts. Despite the plethora of educational prospects surrounding health, community engagement, and civic improvement, assessing the efficacy of adult learning in community settings remains challenging. Previous research has indicated inadequacies of conventional prenatal education programs in addressing the complex needs of expecting mothers.

This study centered on the adult learning experiences in the Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW) program, …

Parents In Action For Change, Faisuly Correa Rojas

Education | Graduate Culminating Projects

This handbook offers a structured framework for parents in Marin County’s advocacy group, aimed at informing them about special education and bullying prevention practices to better advocate for their children's education.

Application Of The Hattie And Timperley Power Of Feedback Model With Graduate Teacher Education Students, Judy R. Wilkerson

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Student feedback is a crucial part of learning and improvement. The Hattie and Timperly (2007) model have been identified in the literature as the most useful feedback model evolving out of the literature on feedback and formative assessment prompted by the seminal Black and Wiliam (1998) study. The model consists of three questions: Where am I going? (feed-up), How am I going/doing? (feedback), and Where am I going next? (feed-forward). The combination of these three questions establishes a process for preparing the student with an advance organizer (the goal or student learning outcome), an assessment of actual performance, and a …

Andragogical Tendencies Of Excellent Extension Educators, T. Grady Roberts, Matt Benge, Amy Harder

Journal of Extension

Extension agents frequently teach adult audiences, who require a different approach than youth audiences. Andragogy has been frequently used to frame research in Extension. However, it is not clear if Extension professionals apply andragogical principles in practice when teaching programs. We used Knowles’ theory of andragogy and the Personal Adult Learning Style Inventory to investigate the andragogical tendencies of Extension agents who were nominated as exceptional teachers in [State]. Our study results suggest that the agents viewed as exceptional teachers in [State] embrace an andragogical philosophy when it does not conflict with their understanding of their job responsibilities.

A Critical Book Review Of The Work Edited By Alfred, M. V., Robinson, Petra, A., & Roumell, E.A. (Eds.) (2021). Advancing The Global Agenda For Human Rights, Vulnerable Populations, And Environmental Sustainability: Adult Education As Strategic Partner., Sharon V. Gardiner-Taylor

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

ABSTRACT

This critical book review is an overview of the work edited by Alfred, M. V., Robinson, Petra, A., & Roumell, E.A. (Eds.) (2021), Advancing the global agenda for human rights, vulnerable populations, and environmental sustainability: Adult education as strategic partner. This review introduces each author, discusses the content, and concisely evaluates the work. Alfred, Robinson, and Roumell use a global perspective to explore how adult education influences considerations for marginalized persons with low literacy levels. Further, they write that people should focus on learning, not capital gain, but also contend that one does not have to operate at the …

Great Leader, Great Learner: Shepherd-Teachers, Self-Directed Learning, And The Preaching Moment In Small Southern Baptist Churches, Matthew Thomas Gowin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore the influence of the shepherd–teacher’s learning attributes, informed by adult learning theory, on the preaching moment within a conservative Southern Baptist congregation. Malcolm S. Knowles offered the theory guiding this study in his concepts of andragogy and self-directed learning. Knowles introduced an educational model that emphasizes adult learning and primarily self-directed learning. The study observed whether being a self-directed learner impacts the shepherd–teacher’s instructional activities, including preparation and delivery. The study addressed an identified gap between adult learning theory and homiletics. The multiple-case study started by surveying pastors with the …

An Argument For Expanding Research On Quantitative Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Randall E. Groth

Numeracy

Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) traditionally has been used in research concerning prospective and practicing classroom teachers. This essay argues that PCK is also relevant to other professions including those advancing quantitative reasoning (QR). To illustrate, the case of PCK for teaching QR is considered. Those in fields such as public health, journalism, meteorology, and government increasingly find themselves responsible for helping the public understand an ever-growing amount of quantitative information that has a bearing on societal well-being. Several examples illustrate how such professionals’ responsibilities require knowing prevalent QR patterns in society, strategies for fostering sound reasoning, and the general nature …

Policies For Place: How To Make Sustainable Investments In Communities, Kathleen Bolter, Timothy J. Bartik, Brad J. Hershbein, Michelle Miller-Adams, Lee Adams, Brian J. Asquith, Alfonso Hernandez, Kyle Huisman, Iryna V. Lendel, Gabrielle Pepin, Bridget Timmeney, Beth C. Truesdale, Yulya Truskinovsky

Reports

No abstract provided.

Faculty Perceptions And Integration Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy In Programs Designed For Adult Learners, Jennifer Mattingly

Dissertations of Practice

Enrollment in colleges and universities has become increasingly diverse and with the looming demographic cliff, many institutions have turned more attention to the adult learner population. However, the diversity of the adult learner has often been overlooked, including in research about how culturally responsive pedagogy is incorporated into adult learning models. The purpose of this case study was to learn about how faculty in adult learning degree programs perceive and integrate culturally responsive pedagogy into their teaching practices. The case site was a department that offers degrees specifically designed for adult learners at a small, private liberal arts institution located …

“I Could've Been A Whole Lot Better”: Motivations And Perceived Benefits Of Black Retired Adult Learners With Low Literacy Skills Participating In An Adult Basic Education Program, Kit M. Wilson

ETD Archive

For the past several decades, federal legislation has used accountability measures and funding eligibility to narrow the focus of adult education on workforce development. While many adult learners benefit from these policies, retired adult learners do not. Retired adult learners do not participate in adult education for career-related reasons. Although there are several studies that document the psychological benefits of retired adults participating in education programs, there are limited studies documenting the self-reported motivations and perceived benefits of retired adults who participate in adult basic education (ABE). This study aimed to close the gap in the literature by investigating the …

Community Science Online: Building Capacity For Native Bee Monitoring, Lauren Vilen, Lisa Mason, Sarah Viders, Jill Zarestky

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Native bees are crucial for sustainable productivity in natural, agricultural, and urban ecosystems, but they are losing natural habitat spaces. Extension can facilitate community science programs to collect ecological data on native bee populations and support pollinator conservation. Native Bee Watch, an in-person community science program, transitioned to a hybrid format where volunteers received online training and support for conducting field-based data collection. This article presents the volunteers’ perceptions of the program training, support, and bee monitoring based on surveys and data analytics collected from technology tools. Study results indicate redesign successes and challenges and provide insight on how to …

“It’S Part Of Your Life Now Because Someone Has Exposed You To It”: The Experiences Of Adult Learners Of Color In The Clemente Course In The Humanities, Charity Anderson

Journal of Research Initiatives

At 30 sites across the United States and Puerto Rico, the Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities provides economically and socially marginalized adults with a free college course in the humanities. The experience of non-traditional adult students, particularly adults of color, is often missing from academic literature, exacerbating past injustices and increasingly marginalizing the historically underserved people and communities of color by higher education. This paper, which draws from a two-year critical ethnography of Clemente courses, examines the perspective of the adult learners of color who participated in the course. Interview and participant-observational data indicate that adults enrolled in …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Former Maine Adult Education Students Who Successfully Earned A High School Credential, Kayla Sikora

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Students who unenroll from traditional high school often seek a nontraditional pathway to earn a high school credential. Maine adult education programming provides a nontraditional pathway to a high school credential for high school non-completers. This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of former students who obtained their high school credential through a Maine adult education program. Through one-on-one semi-structured interviews, eight participants shared their lived experiences working with Maine adult education programming to obtain their high school credential. Two themes emerged in this study: The significance of self-motivation and the importance of support. The significance of self-motivation was …

Unequal Usage: Geographic Disparities And The Michigan Reconnect Program, Kyle Huisman, Kathleen Bolter

Reports

No abstract provided.

Podcast Listening And Informal Learning, Christopher Shamburg, Veronica O'Neill, Remberto Jimenez, Juan Rodriguez, Kristina Harb

The Qualitative Report

Listening to podcasts is a popular way adults learn outside of formal school settings. Examining podcast listening through the lens of informal learning is an important and underexplored area of inquiry. This is especially important considering the growth of the adult population in the United States and the new opportunities for learning and recreation. In this research, we interviewed 31 adult podcast listeners from across the United States about their experiences listening to and learning from podcasts. We open coded and refined the analysis to three themes. There was a strong connection between listening, learning, and personal growth among the …

Allied Health Faculty Members’ Perspective On Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Prajakta Khare-Ranade, Margaret Newsham Beckley, Mary Geders Falcetti

Dissertations

A framework for interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO, 2010) in response to the need to address the complicated conditions that exist in today’s health systems. Much of the focus of today’s health service delivery is predicated on the social determinants of health (Barzansky et al., 2019), which refer to the environmental conditions associated with where people are born, live, go to school, work, play, age, and worship that have an impact on health, function, quality of life, and risks (Healthy People 2030, n.d.). IPCP is thought to be the only approach effective …

‘If They Laugh They Will Love The Learning’: Experiences Of The Use Of Humor By Adult Education Practitioners In Egypt And The United States, Mohamed Serry

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This qualitative research studied the experiences of adult education practitioners from Egypt and the United States with the usage of humor. The problem was that humor is a commonly used communication and education tool, yet it is not studied enough within adult education contexts. The sample included three participants from Egypt and three from the United States. All six had adult education experiences in different contexts, including educational interventions in nonprofits, manufacturing contexts, and corporate office settings. The study aimed to determine the positive and negative results of humor on adult learners, also the practitioners' needs for a better usage …

A Multi-Agent Modeling Social Network Analysis Of Cooperative Learning Groups Within A Simulated Adult Education Classroom Learning Environment, Leverett Bruner

All Dissertations

Illiteracy and a lack of a high school diploma are impediments to a fulfilled and meaningful life. Low or reduced literacy and non-attainment of a high school diploma are significant problems in the United States. Adult education can be a vehicle to address these ever-present issues. A disproportionate number of students in adult education are minorities, members of lower socioeconomic statuses and traditionally marginalized groups who lack effective literacy skills and/or a high school diploma. Adult education and its related entities can serve as a vehicle to address these pervasive issues, but adult education as a program type is a …

What Is The ‘E’ In Esol? Three Papers On Linguistic Borders, Normativity, And Race In Adult English Education, Kelsey Swift

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In this three-paper dissertation project, I explore how ‘English’ becomes a recognizable object within the context of adult ESOL education. Building on scholarship on named languages (García, 2019; Makoni & Pennycook, 2006), the historical construction of languages (Bonfiglio, 2010; Irvine & Gal, 2000), and raciolinguistic ideologies (Flores & Rosa, 2015; Rosa & Flores, 2017), I analyze how language, both as an abstract concept and as a collection of linguistic features, is treated within adult ESOL, looking at specific contemporary classrooms, as well as historical texts. This work culminated in the three studies I present here – focused, in turn, on …

Aligning Kresa Efe/Cte Course Offerings With Local Business Needs: Results Of Two Studies, W.E. Upjohn Institute For Employment Research

Reports

No abstract provided.

Student Centered Language Teaching: A Focus On Student Identity, Rachel Mano

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio is a compilation of essays that describe what the writer has come to see as essential topics in second language acquisition. It begins with a professional environment piece, and then a teaching philosophy statement focused on student identity and interaction in the classroom. This is followed by an essay on observations of teaching. The next two sections focus on pragmatic resistance among advanced learners and the importance of preparing learners for peer interaction. The portfolio concludes with an annotated bibliography outlining the main concepts associated with Communicative Language Teaching, a method that is commonly employed in second language …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Factors Contributing To Adult Education Students’ Transition To Credit Courses, Heather Martin

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Adult education programs serve students with low literacy and numeracy skills. They provide instructional services below the postsecondary level for students who have limited English proficiency and students who are working towards obtaining their high school equivalency. Once adult education students complete their programs, they may choose to transition to college credit courses or enroll in a job training program. This study examined student factors that impact the likelihood of adult education students transitioning to college credit courses. Stepwise regression was used to analyze five years of adult education data from over 3,000 students in an adult education program in …

Two For The Price Of One! A Study Of Persistence Of Adult Education Students Pursuing A High School Equivalency Credentiial And A Study Of The Researcher's Experience Conducting That Study., Jacqueline Lynch

Dissertations

This two-in-one study was an exploration of persistence. The quantitative study explored the relationship between the self-efficacy and persistence of adult learners pursuing a high school equivalency credential. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and Lewin’s Force Field Analysis offered an effective framework for considering this relationship. The findings of this study were statistically insignificant due to the low response rate.

The second study, a qualitative study, was added to understand my experience trying to gather data during the quantitative study and to explore the implications of data collection, sharing, and use in the adult education field. Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) and …