Priority one of the Marrakech Framework for Action (MFA) involves promoting adult learning and education (ALE) within a lifelong learning perspective. This article intends to describe how the MFA places lifelong learning into a new era of ascension that will be transformational towards ALE, sustainable development goals, the world promise of…

Japan, like many countries, is facing problems with an aging society, and lifelong learning is becoming more and more important. To provide older adults with the opportunity to enroll in lifelong learning programs, it is essential to offer suitable programs. However, designing learning programs for older adults is not easy because they may have…

Adults' development of literacy and numeracy skills that can enable them to navigate the demands of contemporary life and be prepared for the future is central to their economic, social, and personal well-being and the functioning of society. This article discusses the role of literacy and numeracy in adult learning and education, beginning with…

This chapter argues for the centrality of spirituality in lifelong and adult learning theory and practice. As embedded in human experience, the spirituality of learning, including exploring awe and wonder, is vital. We introduce the processes and outcomes of lifelong spiritual formation, profound learning, and human flourishing as underpinnings…

This article takes an international perspective on adult learning and disinformation, exploring how they have recast the global landscape. In particular, we address former president Trump's naming of certain Caribbean and African nations as "shithole countries," as well as other related experiences, and work to locate these comments…

This article explores the evolving role of technology in nonformal and informal adult learning settings, guided by the theory of connectivism. It examines how digital platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), and other technological advancements enhance the accessibility, personalization, and efficiency of adult learning. The various educational…

Andragogy was the first adult learning model to identify adult learners' characteristics and provide a pragmatic framework for responding to them. It is still considered a foundational and significant contribution to understanding adult learners despite substantial critique over the last 50 years. Current research supports the notion that…

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…

This article aims to examine how to improve the support for working learners in their learning and education based on the findings of the issue's articles. For this, I focus on describing what can be learned from the articles' findings and, based on that information, discuss directions and practices necessary to support adult working learners. I…

Social presence is the feeling of connectedness among learners. In this article, the authors explore the theory and practice related to social practice in online adult learning environments.

Mathematical dispositions, or an individual's behavioral (i.e., things they say and do), cognitive (i.e., attention and memory), and affective (i.e., emotions and beliefs) tendencies related to mathematics, are critical to the learning of mathematics and choices related to STEM. Previous research has suggested that adult learners may possess…

This article provides an overview of adult learning theory, focusing on the theories covered in this issue of New Directions in Adult and Continuing Education. In offering a brief synopsis of each article and reflecting on the ways adult learning theories have evolved since the first update was published in 1993, this article explains several…

This chapter discusses ways of engaging the plant-human connection and exchange by learning about bonsai and then engaging and meditating on the tree to eventually cultivate the experience of bonsai as meditation.

Retiring senior military officers (SMO) are a specific group of adult learners in role transition. SMOs have the shared experience of high-level leadership roles, senior managerial experiences, and military rank. They experience some similar transition challenges as other military affiliated learners, such as military-civilian culture; however, in…

In this article, the authors challenge the ongoing dehumanization of people of color by arguing for the use of Black texts as core readings in courses on adult learning rather than as add-ons or "special topics."