The German gymnasium teacher Alexander Kapp (1800-1869) was to all appearances the first one to use the "andragogy concept" as a term for "adult learning." In 1833 he published the book "Platon's Erziehungslehre, als Pädagogik für die Einzelnen und als Staatspädagogik. Oder dessen praktische Philosophie." This book…

The article explores how education promotes social change. Using the philosophical foundations of adult education outlined by Elias and Merriam (2001, "Philosophical foundations of adult education" (3rd ed.), Krieger) as an analytical framework, the article compares the similarities and differences between popular education forms in two…

In this response to the commentaries, the author makes some general observations on the nature of the Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning (IFLL) and "Learning Through Life" ("LTL"): their design and purpose. He then turns to the comments from the "International Journal of Lifelong Education"…

Although adult development may be viewed from many perspectives, the authors have chosen three trends that best describe the field for them: (1) reconceptualizations, (2) grounded theory and ethnography as research methods, and (3) special groups as targets for study. (Author)

Integration of the cognitive psychology and sociocultural constructivist perspectives yields a more comprehensive account of adult thinking and acting. This synthesis is based on a view of individual knowledge acquisition as a socially mediated process and on ontogeny or life-history approach. (SK)

Sketches parallels between adult development and adult learning literature by focusing on issues and directions they have in common. Evaluates the extent to which an understanding of adult development can illuminate the processes of adult learning and teaching. (Author)

Interviews with 36 part-time adult students showed them to be in 2 distinct groups: those for whom there was a clear link between educational participation and life transitional events and those for whom no linkage was apparent. The latter appear to participate for intrinsic interest with no immediate instrumental goal. (SK)

Transformative adult development involves a qualitative change in world view with resulting tension and struggles of the production of new consciousness. Change occurs through a dialectic process of reconstructing meaning in new ways. (SK)

Reviews concepts of meaning making in classical and contemporary writing. Examines models of cognitive and ego development linked with meaning making and draws a model of the relationship of meaning making to adult learning and development. (SK)

An oral history of the workplace learning experiences of 17 women revealed that central to these experiences was exploration of self. Themes included recognizing and naming the self, confronting and breaking free of constraining workplace structures, and recovering an authentic self. (SK)

Recognition of the importance of the workplace derives from the pervasive influence of work on adult development, the substantial scale of education and training carried out at work, changes in the nature of work and occupations, and new forms and content in worker education. (SK)

This article explores a particular expression of social activism by older Canadian women to consider its implications for later life learning. 'Older women', despite their heterogeneity, have tended to be pathologized as a part of the 'problem' of ageing and languishing welfare societies--i.e. stereotyped as passive recipients of welfare and…

The mission of lifelong learning encompasses a holistic, universal, educative framework embedded in acts of self-directed, self-initiated learning. Key to these lifelong learning actions are both facilitative environments and resources for individual learning activities, as well as the development of individual structures and processes to create,…

The dominant paradigm of adult education--adult development--is being challenged profoundly in the context of postmodernism, social fragmentation, and cultural erosion. Adult education's new role should emphasize the collective, collaborative, and social dimensions of adult learning in order to make a significant contribution to society. (SK)