A virtual learning environment aims to engage the student, enabling them to interact and express their understanding of the material. Virtual learning engagement for adult learners is essential for active learning. The lack of active learning is a problem, as evident through researched university learner responses. In this descriptive method…

This exploratory study, in which the participants portrayed a critical role, aimed to discover the perceptions of professional development in changing educator practice at the secondary level with middle school teachers in an urban school district. The data collection process included semi-structured interviews with nine secondary teachers via…

This research study sought to examine the relationship between classroom culture, active learning strategies, and higher education success for adult learners. This mixed-method correlational and causal-comparative research design determined that adult learners have a readiness to learn and an increased need for the teaching to be centered around…

History museum professionals make many assumptions about how visitors learn at their sites but, for various reasons, they rarely do research to test those assumptions. The primary purpose of this study was to explore how adults learn in history museums to fill that gap in understanding. This research utilized a conceptual framework that combined…

This dissertation seeks to understand how a work-based learning project develops the skills, attitudes, behaviors, and Jewish sense of self for three Jewish Federation professionals participating in a larger, 18-month professional development initiative focused on experiential Jewish education. Using case study methodology, this research also…

Millennials and Generation Zers make up the majority of the undergraduate population in universities and colleges. These generation cohorts are better educated and more technologically inclined compared to prior generations. Even with these characteristics, undergraduate accounting enrollment has declined. Moreover, employers have seen a skill gap…

Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) struggle with isolation, loss of acquired skills and independence when they complete high school. Despite positive outcomes with individual involvement in Supported Employment or time limited Post-Secondary Education programs, previous research indicates that there is a gap in the…

The relationship between teacher and student is instrumental to learning (Davenport & Davenport, 1985; Holmes & Abington-Cooper, 2000; Houle, 1996; Knowles, 1980; Knowles et al., 1998; McGrath, 2009). This essential partnership supports instruction and student achievement (Bernstein-Yamashiro & Noam, 2013; Hen & Goroshit, 2016;…

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid Likert scaled instrument to predict adult non-high school degree holders who would perform well academically in a project-based learning (PBL) assessment environment to obtain their high school diploma as opposed to traditional standardized tests such as the General Educational…

Literature has argued that starting new churches is biblical and strategic, requiring the effective equipping of church planters and leaders through adult learning methods (Acts 13:1-4 and 14:20-23; Keller, 2003, p. 1; Reimer, 2016, p. 74). The sobering reality is that about one-third of church plants do not survive (Stetzer & Bird, 2007, p.…

A rapid increase of nontraditional learners enrolling in online education has resulted in the need for further research on the persistence of highly nontraditional students in online settings. As the enrollment of nontraditional students in online courses continues to grow, instructors face challenges with implementing effective course content and…

21st century preparedness is a prevalent topic in the field of education. The Common Core State Standards were developed to promote continuity for all students. Research indicates that student preparedness for college and the workforce is lacking. In order to bridge the gap, students must become intellectually autonomous. In addition to content…

Over the course of several decades, a large body of research written with a focus on community colleges has accumulated based on the high need for remediation in mathematics, and has been associated with high attrition rates at that level. Reform efforts have been largely unsuccessful. This qualitative study was conducted so that the phenomenon of…

An Investigation of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching and its Influence on Beginning Teacher Retention: A Companion Dissertation. Shook, Anna, 2015. Dissertation, Gardner-Webb University, Adult Learning Theory/Adult Developmental Theory/Professional Development/Beginning Teacher/North Carolina Center for the Advancement of…

Retaining students, particularly in the 16- to- 24-year-old category, is a constant challenge for adult basic education programs nationwide. Educators need to understand factors that affect adult learners' experiences, have a better understanding of ways to motivate adult students in a nontraditional school setting to enhance their engagement, and…