This book offers new readings of the theory, politics, policy, and practice of radical adult education and learning where people's lives are understood as complex and interrelated matters. Brookfield and Holst's poetics and deeply human prose sound rebellious; the authors confront some of the main radical trends in the field of adult education…

The mentoring relationship can enhance mentors' own psychosocial development and growth; proteges gain from the synergy that results. Organizational benefits include improved recruitment and induction, better staff planning, and increased communication. Society at large benefits from maximized human capacity, strengthened networks, and increased…

The issue of relationship is important personally and organizationally. Individuals find themselves, discover who they are, existentially and psychologically speaking, in the living of their relationships. The question is then what adult education experience is available--solid in theory and in practice--to teach the art and science of the…

Activities of the Adult Student Personnel Association emphasized life planning and counseling services for adult learners. (SK)

Although it may be so subtle that it is not noticed or sudden and life altering, adult development occurs in a cycle of four inherent processes: transaction, transition, transformation, and transcendence. These processes exist in a cycle characterized by growth and development. The processes can be defined as follows: (1) transaction--personal,…

The two papers in this report explore the dimensions of the idea of adulthood as a period of continuing change and learning, and their implications for adult education. In the first paper, Harry Lasker and James Moore review the major works on adult psychological, intellectual, and moral development. They describe the major stage theories posed by…

Self-concept is an important element in the growth and developmental process for individual human beings. Adult learners in institutional programs need assistance in probing their inner selves to be able to move ahead in their lives. David Kolb's work with the experiental learning model is especially appropriate in dealing with adult learners. In…

The current data on the incidence and predilections of adult students fall into "good news" and "bad news" categories for educators in the humanities. The good news begins with the sheer numbers of potential adult students. In 1975, about 17 million adults were engaged in continuing education, and this figure has probably increased dramatically…

Argues that an understanding of the dynamics of life transitions is crucial to effective adult education programs. Examines the "stage/phase" theory of transitions, maintaining that transitions occur in predictable sequences, and the "life event" theory, which views transitions as the result of social processes. (22 citations) (MAB)

A conceptual framework for adult development is proposed, based on a synthesis of the literature on role theory and various age-related adult developmental theories. It is proposed that adult development may not be as linear, uniform, and age-related as has been suggested. An individual adult could be in varying developmental stages across the…

A collection of six papers on faculty development concerns is presented. In "The Scholar-Practitioner Dilemma," Robert J. Menges notes the dual roles of scholarship and teaching that faculty members confront and introduces the topics that are addressed by the other authors. Attention is directed to the processes involved in intellectual work. In…

Examines the construction of competence-based instruction in a curriculum designed for working adults, offering principles of good practice related to stated outcomes, responsiveness to student differences, instructional modes and settings, advising, and promoting self-directed learning. Suggests that course materials should be chosen to provide…

This review of self-planned learning is divided into three parts: (1) learning theory, (2) instructional theory, and (3) practitioner application. Its objective is to help participants learn about the relevance and applications to and implications for adult development and learning of psychology. In the first part behaviorism and neobehaviorism…

Favors community college recognition of the diversity of potential college students. Argues for research into the major areas and stages of adult development through analysis of individual ego, moral, and intellectual differences in relation to individual orientations toward knowledge, educational practices, and programmatic alternatives. (CM)

Discusses, from a developmental perspective, issues surrounding the middle-aged adult student experience within institutions of higher education. Three topics are addressed: cognitive abilities and needs, with an expanded role for professors; the academic normative environment versus the adult normative environment; and professor and adult student…