Development Of Adult Learners Research Articles

DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT LEARNERS’ 21ST CENTURY SKILLS IN GREENLAND: FIELD WORK ANALYSIS

The expansion of adult education has been presented as an effective strategy to solve the issues in adult employment. The aim of the present research is to analyse the field work carried out in Nuuk (Greenland) on the development of adult learners’ 21st century skills in Greenland underpinning the elaboration of implications for adult education in Greenland. The methods of the present research comprise both theoretical and empirical methods. The empirical study was based on fieldwork. Two on-site visits in Nuuk between the 8-12th August 2022 were carried out. Observation and participant observation were implemented. A semi-structured interview with two interviewees was conducted. The literature review allows for a conclusion that adult education in Greenland is mentioned neither in Greenland educational policy documents or scientific publications. Despite that, the analysis of the implemented fieldwork allows drawing a conclusion that adult education has been established on a municipal level like the centre Majoriaq, and on a non-governmental level like Kofoeds Skole. Both theoretical and empirical analysis contribute to the conclusion that adult learners’ 21st century skills in Greenland are being developed. However, these skills would need more joint work from all the adult education stakeholders.

한 성인학습자의 유튜브 기반 학습경험에 대한 자문화기술지

The aim of this study is to understand the characteristics and meaning of the online platform-based adult learning experience by autobiographically describing the YouTube-based learning experience of an adult learner. The study results are briefly presented as follows. Firstly, as an adult learner, I converted the fragmented information on YouTube into systematic self-directed knowledge based on my subjective point of view and perspective. Secondly, as a researcher, I actively participated in YouTube-based online learning based on self-direction and mutuality. Thirdly, as an adult learner, I was able to overcome the limitations of the physical environment through the expansion of temporality and spatiality on YouTube. The results showed that the essence of the YouTube-based learning experience of an adult learner was that it is informal learning in which self-directed knowledge was subjectively constructed through self-awareness and reflection on the learning content, learning method, and learning environment mediated by YouTube. The results of this study will contribute to providing a theoretical and practical foundation for informal learning to promote the continuous growth and development of adult learners by identifying the characteristics and educational meaning of the YouTube-based online learning experience of an adult learner.

Development and validation of students’ digital competence scale (SDiCoS)

Towards the transition to blended and remote education, evaluating the levels of students’ digital competence and designing educational programs to advance them is of paramount importance. Existing validated digital competence scales usually ignore either important digital skills needed or new socio-technological innovations. This study proposes and validates a comprehensive digital competence scale for students in higher education. The suggested instrument includes skills of online learning and collaboration, social media, smart and mobile devices, safety, and data protection. The scale was evaluated on a sample of 156 undergraduate and postgraduate students just before and at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. The final scale is composed of 28 items and six digital competence components. The evaluation study revealed valid results in terms of model fit criteria, factor loadings, internal validity, and reliability. Individual factors like the students’ field of study, computer experience and age revealed significant associations to the scale components, while gender revealed no significant differences. The suggested scale can be useful to the design of new actions and policies towards remote education and the digital skills’ development of adult learners.

Developing Adult Learners’ Language Competence in Culture-Based Blended-Learning Course

Abstract During the last two decades, due to technological possibilities and the spread of the Internet, new forms of learning have originated as an alternative to traditional face-to-face learning – e-learning, online learning, hybrid learning, blended learning, ubiquitous learning, etc. They have become even more popular due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the only solution to implement learning at universities and adult education institutions. This paper will focus on a blended-learning language course designed for adult learners. The aim of the current research is to evaluate the course created and the development of adult learners’ English language competence during the course implementation in six EU countries – Croatia, Latvia, Slovenia, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic. 227 adult learners and ten English-language teachers were involved in the course piloting. Research methods applied: learners’ survey after the course completion, unstructured observation of learners done by teachers during the course, and structured interviews with the teachers after the course implementation. In this paper, the observation results and the findings from teachers’ interviews will be analysed. The findings highlight both positive aspects and challenges of the course created. Learners have gained cultural knowledge, increased their vocabulary, and developed reading skills, while at the same time improvements in developing learners’ listening and writing skills are also required.1

EUROPEAN CULTURAL HERITAGE AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT COURSE FOR ADULT LEARNERS’ SELF-DEVELOPMENT

Aim. This article aims to evaluate the target course created and the development of adult learners’ 21st century skills during the course implementation in six EU countries. Concept. European Cultural Heritage and Skills Development Course is a culture-based blended-learning course created within the framework of the Erasmus+ project “Cultural Knowledge and Language Competences as a Means to Develop 21stCentury Skills” conducted in six EU countries: Croatia, Latvia, Slovenia, Romania, Poland and Czech Republic (Project No.2018-1-HR-01-KA204-047430; 2018-2021). The course content is presented in a form of a story, applying innovative methodologies and tools increasing adult learners’ cultural knowledge and ensuring the skills development. This article focusses on blended-learning in particular, and the course evaluation given by learners and teachers after the course implementation in the six partner countries as well as the development of adult learners’ 21st century skills. Results and conclusion.The results indicate a positive evaluation of the learning platform, the learning methodologies and tasks as well as a positive trend considering the development of learners’ 21st century skills, including the English language competences. Although the results varied from country to country, no extremely significant differences between the evaluation done by learners and the teachers were found, thus the course may be applicable to adult teaching/learning. Practical application.The created blended-learning course may be a viable option for developing adult learners’ 21st century skills and increasing their cultural awareness of the less known EU intangible cultural heritage. Originality.The contribution describes the difference between flipped, hybrid and blended-learning and introduces a novel approach of creating a blended-learning course for adult learners.

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: A TRAINING OF KINGDOM WORKERS

Christian adult learners are to be trained to demonstrate Christlikenessand become agents of change in the society where there is the decadence of morality and godliness. Sadly, many Christian institutions that engage in adult education are not preparing their students to function as agents of change in a corrupt society. Instead, most Christian institutions have concentrated on the development of adult learners both intellectually and theologically. The purpose of adult Christian education is to train workers for the kingdom of Christ. Upon completing their training, adult Christians are to be sent to the world as transformation and development agents. They are to engage in good moral conduct as the redeeming salt and light of the world and respond to violence and injustice in society. Therefore, adult learners teachers should be aware that adult Christians teaching and training should not focus mainly on training intellectuals but must also include moral education and spirituality.

Study on the Exploration of the Career Development of Adult Learners at Graduate School of Education

Study on the Exploration of the Career Development of Adult Learners at Graduate School of Education

Using an Ecomap as a Tool for Qualitative Data Collection in Organizations

An ecomap is a social work data collection tool that is used to gather data about a participant's environment. Derived from Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory, the ecomap can be used in adult education and human resource development to record information of in-and-out-of-work and learning experiences and show how these interactions support or hurt an individual. Information about important interactions in an individual's life can help the staffs in organizations understand employees or adult learners in ways that may not surface with merely work or educational interactions. This first-hand knowledge of an individual's strengths or weaknesses can help the staff learn how to individualize employee and adult learner development. This personal knowledge can be an important part of an employee's and adult learner's performance, and personal and professional growth.

A Model for Developing Adult Learner Effectiveness in New Roles and Environments

Abstract Introduction. A glance at Plato's Republic confirms that the notion of learning through life is hardly new. Thus, with the development of ‘adult education’ came the view that education should be lifelong. Nowadays it must not be regarded as a luxury for a few outstanding individuals, nor as a stage of early manhood, but it is envisaged as a permanent necessity, an inseparable aspect of employment, and a part of life. Since life is viewed as learning, education has no endings, it is a cognitive process internal to the learner, which can occur both incidentally and in planned educational activities.Purpose of study/Sources of Evidence. Adult learners are employees or future employees who cross an organizational boundary that requires performance in a new organizational role or environment. Adult learner's development can be defined as all development processes used to advance adult students to desired levels of performance.This paper attempts to draft a model for developing EFL (English as a Foreign Language) adult learner effectiveness that could represent a foundation for developing more comprehensive performance improvement interventions. Three key questions are addressed: what learning content should be included in a comprehensive adult learner development program, what learning strategies are most effective to facilitate that learning, and what should be the role of educational institutions.Findings and Results. The conclusions of the study reveal that adult learners need to engage in four content domains in order to achieve performance goals: individual, people, organization, and work tasks. This development process is not linear, but rather cyclical, with novice learners having to cycle through learning tasks and learning events repeatedly. Conclusion. Effectiveness in new roles and environments can be achieved by interacting with other people, therefore social learning skills are of great importance, and learning occurs when engaged in work projects. Self-directed learning becomes the norm for adult learners who have to take initiative to go beyond their job-description. Adult learning has no definite beginning and ending points, it is a complex but continuous process.

A Family Counselor Practicum Based on a Deliberate Psychological Education Model

The authors describe a family counseling practicum that is based on cognitive‐developmental theory and uses a Deliberate Psychological Education (DPE) model for developing a curriculum (N. A. Sprinthall & R. Mosher, 1978). Designed to promote the growth and development of adult learners, DPE facilitates learning and the developmental growth of beginning family counselors. A brief review of the origins of the DPE model and its use in counseling settings is followed by a description of the curriculum that has been implemented and refined over the past 10 years in the New Horizons Family Counseling Center at The College of William and Mary.