The German tradition of critical theory (often called the Frankfurt School), represented by such authors as Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Oskar Negt, have given crucial contributions to social and cultural theory in investigating and conceptualizing contradictory conditions of modern Western societies. This paper will discuss the ways in…

Educators can help adult learners experience identity transformation and initiate lifelong learning by designing curriculum centered upon transformative learning objectives (TLOs) and experiential learning competencies (ELCs). TLOs point learners to the specific ways of thinking, feeling, and being in the world to which a course or other learning…

This article explores the evolution and expansion of experiential learning theory (ELT) within the context of contemporary adult education, emphasizing the integration of technology, interdisciplinarity, and cultural responsiveness. Although Kolb's foundational model has been instrumental in linking theoretical knowledge with practical…

Rural agriculture retailers, or those engaged in the production of food, fiber, and fuel, are pressed to find just-in-time solutions for continual learning with their adult employees, specifically millennials, the generation who will assume future leadership roles. Adult educators in rural settings, or lower populated areas, are encountering rapid…

This chapter considers whether John Dewey's writings about experiential education are relevant to modern-day conceptions of adult experiential learning. It highlights how some of the threads of Dewey's thinking are still pertinent, but much more complex.

Enrollment in graduate programs continues to rise at a steady pace in the United States with a 9% increase over the past 10 years, a pace that is expected to continue through 2026. Among these students, 56% are "adult learners" between the ages of 25 through 39 years. With this in mind, instructors need to be mindful of the unique needs…

The CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) announce the inaugural winners of the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Equity Awards, recognizing strategies that have been proven to put CPL in reach of key adult learner populations and/or increase their CPL credit-earning.…

Opportunities for self-determined online professional development (OPD) are emerging, but their potential for increasing adult learners' agency is not yet fully realised. Faced with the problem of successfully designing a self-determined comprehensive evidence-based online numeracy resource for educators who are often time poor and do not engage…

This article details the efforts of one program's collaborative efforts toward continuous improvement and strengthening partnerships with local school districts using Leadership-Focused Coaching, a research-based model for principal preparation programs. Practical experiences and lessons learned from the ongoing online program improvement and…

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the advantages of combining place-as-text curriculum with an oral history collection to act as catalysts for transformational learning. These experiential and service learning practices complement each other to enrich the encounters students are afforded. First, the nature and procedures of place-as-text and…

Self-directed learning and creativity are critical workplace competences that are important to foster in formal educational settings. Previous studies have identified a relationship between self-directed learning and creativity, but the specific nature of this relationship is unclear. The purpose of the present theoretical paper is to examine…

While there is no single profile of the adult learner in the 21st century, there exists a common desire to obtain a degree in higher education. Adult learners as a group are comprised of a large number of women and individuals from various racial/ethnic groups. In addition, they often possess varied learning styles and maintain multiple roles and…

This article describes how adults learn to self-manage chronic bodily symptoms, a complex and costly health problem. It proposes a theory of learning for an innovative, research-informed intervention, The BodyMind Approach® (TBMA) aimed at developing confidence, competence, skills, and knowledge and understanding for self-management for people…

The history of American higher education has long been dominated by a battle of sustaining innovation. This paper highlights five diverse institutions that are tackling a broad range of problems in their efforts to innovate and sustain: (1) Arizona State University's open-access Global Freshman Academy creates a new pathway into the institution,…

Andragogy is the art and science of helping adults learn. As the number of college students classified as adults increases it is important their learning needs are met. The andragogical principles that frame this model describe how adult students need to know how, what, and why they are learning. Adults also possess the characteristics of…