Developing online learning communities is a promising pedagogical approach in online learning contexts for adult tertiary learners, but it is no easy task. Understanding how learning communities are formed and evaluating their efficacy in supporting learning involves a complex set of issues that have a bearing on the design and facilitation of…

The 11th International Conference on Educational Data Mining (EDM 2018) is held under the auspices of the International Educational Data Mining Society at the Templeton Landing in Buffalo, New York. This year's EDM conference was highly competitive, with 145 long and short paper submissions. Of these, 23 were accepted as full papers and 37…

Studies of informal and incidental learning demonstrate that it takes place wherever people have a need, motivation, or opportunity for learning. Context is central to the process. Despite its unstructured nature, adult educators can assist learners by identifying conditions that hinder or enhance it and by fostering critical reflection. (Contains…

This book addresses the "warrior" who rises to the challenge of teaching the adult learner. The discussion is designed as a catalyst for dialogue about the adult learner and to uncover the complexities of teaching this rare and riveting species. This book is organized around three interlocking themes: some things we know about the adult learner;…

This study was designed to explore relationships between type and token frequencies and contextual position effects; specifically, the major question was whether or not vowel cluster pronunciation preferences of adult readers were more affected by frequency of occurrence than by graphemic environment. Two opposing hypotheses were tested regarding…

By locating three possible fallacies associated with the conventional "needs approach" of program planning for adult learners, the present paper proposes a theoretical model that accounts for a possible evolution of real educational needs of learners and identifies varying impacts of the process upon learners' perceived need changes. (Author)

Presents a dialog in five articles that address the issue of whether distance education is a discipline in its own right, primarily based on a 1986 article by Holmberg. Topics discussed include adult education; adult learning; conceptual models; and the roles of theory and research. (LRW)

This paper examines research on learning styles as related to online learning for adult learners. There is much disagreement regarding the definition of learning style. This paper defines it as an individual's preferred way of learning. The focus is on the extent to which learning styles are able to predict student success (e.g., grades,…

A model is presented to help clarify the concept of lifelong learning. Constructed on the idea that an operational definition of lifelong learning should be based on the locus of control for making decisions about the goals and means of learning, the model is a two-by-two matrix of learner and institution that represents four identified situations…

A theoretical model for collaborative inquiry as a research methodology in adult education has been proposed. The model, which likens collaborative inquiry to the process of organic gardening, depicts a sphere in motion where the cycles of collaborative inquiry revolve in continuous motion. In the center of the sphere is a collaborative self that…

A study created a model and instrument to determine and evaluate the factors that promote perspective transformation in the higher education classroom. The focus was the classroom setting, but other experiences and circumstances were recognized as being important determinants as well. An existing assessment model was used as the basis for…

A model of research design anxiety reactions, that was adapted from the work of P. B. Cemen (1987) on mathematics anxiety reactions, was tested. The sample consisted of six classes of 152 master's degree students in a graduate educational research design course. Most were full-time teachers pursuing the master's degree part-time. Students were…

Studies of self-directed learning (SDL) have generally concentrated on who self-directed learners are and what/how they learn. In 1980, Gibbons et al. used biographies of 20 "expert" self-directed learners to explore the principles and determinants of SDL. Tough (1967), Guglielmino (1977), and Spear and Mocker (1984) have respectively…

Presents a program planning model to be used in developing educational experiences for adult learners in university and continuing education settings. Highlights include general characteristics of students; previously learned competencies; needs; objectives; instructional design; delivery; evaluation; administration and management; and research.…

This literature review examines 12 current works dealing with converting basic research on adult learning, adult development, adult education, instructional methods, and learning theory to practical application in the training of trainers. Focus of the review is on translating principles from scientific language to language more suitable to…