Understanding Adult Education and Training

Abstract

This book is designed to assist adult education practitioners in their understanding of the field of adult education as a whole in relation to the multiple roles of adult educators. It introduces issues, debates and literature focusing on several major areas of practice in adult education, taking into account the effects of two major developments since the publication of the first edition in 1995. The first development is global economic restructuring and the effects of these political and economic changes on adult education and training are discussed at various points in the book. Secondly, the emergence of more critical analyses of adult education and training informed by various theoretical frameworks have the potential to contribute to a more effective understanding of the field. These frameworks underpin the discussion throughout the book and detailed examples of their application are included in some chapters. The book contains four major sections: foundational, containing a discussion of knowledge that is fundamental to adult education practice; contextual, in which the central theme that adult learning and education are contextual, complex and contested activities, is illustrated; workplace change and learning; and, other contemporary developments in adult education. Each section begins with an introduction which summarises the content and each chapter, concluding with a short list of recommended reading, is a complete unit. The book also includes an extensive bibliography. The chapters are as follows: A framework for understanding adult learning and education / Griff Foley; Understanding adult learners / Philip Pogson and Mark Tennant; Teaching adults / Griff Foley; Program development in adult education and training / Michael Newman; Evaluating adult education and training / James Athanasou; Research in adult education and training / John McIntyre; Policy formation in adult education and training / Griff Foley, Alastair Crombie, Geof Hawke and Roger Morris; Flexible learning for adults / Richard Edwards and Katherine Nicoll; Reading the discourses of adult basic education teaching / Alison Lee and Rosie Wickert; Organisational learning: basic concepts / Laurie Field; Understanding and achieving successful change in adult education / Geoff Scott; Competency-based education / Clive Chappell, Andrew Gonczi and Paul Hager; Cross-cultural training in the workplace / Daphne Brosnan, Hermine Scheeres and Diana Slade; Experience-based learning / Lee Andresen, David Boud and Ruth Cohen; Women and learning / Susan Knights; Adult education and Indigenous Australians / Michael McDaniel and Rick Flowers; Learning, education and social action / Michael Newman; Conclusion: critical theory and adult education / Griff Foley. Selected papers are indexed from TD/TNC 61.135 to TD/TNC 61.145.