The profession of adult education provides many excellent opportunities to enhance global understanding. One way for adult educators to become involved in international activities is through the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE). As a federation of adult education organizations that are organized in seven regions throughout the…

The author gives his view of the role of the adult agricultural educator. He examines the expansion of functions represented in this role, the importance of strong undergraduate programs, setting an example for students, program improvement and adjustment activities, and the team approach. Suggestions for revitalizing the profession are given. (CT)

A proposed approach to the generation of a graduate professional culture is grounded in the planned, systematic involvement of students in developing and sustaining a graduate adult education program. The approach has a conceptual basis in the works of Jahns and Urbano (1986), who presented a framework of developmental stages toward completion of…

Over the past 10 years an effort has been directed toward developing a new conceptual formulation related to the professional development of and functions performed by the adult/extension educator-practitioner. The purpose for such a new formulation is one of providing a more adequate conceptual basis for: (1) designing professional development…

This paper looks at the following aspect of the professionalization of adult education in India: professional training of adult educators. It first defines professionalization and then discusses the following essential prerequisite for that process: the development of a well-designed professional training program with adequate institutional…

Over the past two decades, a growing interest in career development has integrated findings from the fields of management theory, organizational development, adult learning, and developmental psychology to form a new framework for personnel development. This depends to a large extent upon viewing individuals as capable of tremendous growth and…

The document reports a 10-year seminar effort to consider a framework for a series of inquiries valuable to all institutions engaged in curriculum development or programing. The work reported includes the study of the professional role of the extension adult educator and identifies concepts, propositions, procedures, and a model for use in…

This paper introduces the Pause Model, an innovative means of integrating self-directed learning and continuing professional education. Since the method was developed for professionals such as counselors, educators, and managers who practice in social settings, the paper begins with an explanation of a few of the unique attributes of professional…

Literature on sexuality and aging and Maslow's hierarchy of needs (which include physiological needs, safety and security needs, belongingness needs, esteem needs, and the need for self-actualization) are used in this paper to identify at each level the needs of the aging individual as they derive from his sexuality in order to provide a…

Part of a larger study on the experience of teaching in the steel mill learning environment was an inquiry focused on professional development. Teachers and coordinators were all members of the Teachers Action Research Group for Educational Technology (TARGET), a group of adult educators interested in improving learning and teaching in career…

A Texas study examined what individual learning and/or other needs were identified by adult basic education (ABE) students. It also assessed ABE teachers' propensity to identify the same student needs and determined if these needs were met within the ABE program. A literature review focused on learner types, past experience, program development,…

To have an impact in the adult education field, adult educators must improve their competencies through professional development. Although adult education academic programs exist, many agencies hiring adult educators do not require this background and frequently are unaware that the field exists. The Coalition of Adult Education Organizations has…

Social practice professionals' stubborn application of the quantitative paradigm of science in social contexts has created and perpetuated the current state of affairs such as high unemployment and rampant crime. The goal is to replace the traditional quantitative beliefs and assumptions with alternatives that create and perpetuate a more…

A project was undertaken to introduce gerontological content into the professional preparation of adult educators in the master's program in adult education offered at the University of Southern Maine. After courses in the existing curriculum of the master's program were analyzed for the appropriateness and currency of their gerontological…

The recommendations are a product of the 19th General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization held in Nairobi, Kenya in 1976. They are intended to help member states give effect to the stated principles. In abbreviated form, a few recommendations from the ten sections are (1) adult education must be seen…