Argues that the propensity and capacity of many adults to conduct self-directed learning projects is now well proven, and that researchers should now infuse a spirit of self-critical scrutiny into this developing field of research. Advances four criticisms regarding the current state of self-directed learning research. (Author/CT)

A former educator who currently holds a management position in private industry relates perceptions of the differences between programs in education and business. Clients, content, and training processes of both settings are explored. (DF)

Why is adult education so important? Simply put, social and economic progress in the South rest on the foundation of education. While we improve elementary, middle and high schools to prepare the next generation of workers, we also continuously must shape today's work force for today's economy. In response to this need, Southern Regional…

Despite their tremendous tragedy, the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, have also produced a juncture for transformative learning. Several transformative learning opportunities that may enable some adult learners find and use knowledge as the tool to transcend a tragedy into a learning experience have been identified. Although…

This study used the Delphi research method to develop the Online Adult Learning Inventory, an instrument to apply the principles of adult learning to Web-based instruction. Twelve experts in the fields of adult learning and online course development working with the researchers constructed the instrument and validated its content. (Contains 1…

The birth of modern continuing education as a structured university enterprise has been given impetus by the development of distance education. Instruction through and with a mix of technologies is a permanent and critically important part of distance education. Because of the heterogeneous quality of the adult student population, the introduction…

Despite the fact that people in the United States are living longer, research on the learning projects of the population of individuals 85 years old or older remains sparse and sporadic. The literature that does exist debunks a number of common myths about aging and learning by establishing the following: adults aged 65 and over are a highly…

This final report is a summary of a conference designed to show the importance of adult education for the next century, encourage worldwide commitment to the right of adults to education, and strengthen and expand international cooperation. Part I consists of the summary of the plenary discussions: introduction, speakers and opening speeches, and…

This skill packet presents strategies for training parents to be involved in their children's education. Section 1 focuses on understanding the relationship between positive self-esteem and academic achievement. Section 2 discusses the purpose of parent-teacher conferences and how to enhance communication. Section 3 focuses on research supporting…

This book explores the imperatives of a mass system of higher education through data drawn from a British study of access- and foundation-year students and their teachers. Chapter 1 introduces the book's purposes: to describe learning in postcompulsory education and reclamation of lifelong learning as a sociopolitical project in which universities…

In this book, a working model for leadership development is presented, resulting from groundbreaking work with learning communities in educational leadership preparation programs. Chapter 1 develops the concept of a learning community as both a structure for the delivery of course content (the product) and a laboratory for promoting collaborative…

The ways in which school leaders support teachers' transformational learning are influenced by the amount and types of resources available. This study examined how school leaders exercise their leadership to promote adult learning, what practices they used to support such learning, how they supported their own development, and what developmental…

This retrospective picture of college students over the past 30 years reflects what has been written about students in "Change" magazine between 1969 and 1999. Using the analogy of a museum gallery, the student portraits are grouped into five eras; each of which dominated the literature for approximately 10 years. The Gallery of Student Protest,…

The Model of College Outcomes for Adults explains why adults might do as well as traditional students, despite limited participation and involvement in traditional residential learning experiences. The model's six components are prior experience and personal biographies; psychosocial and value orientation; adult cognition; life-world environment;…

This paper explores a common assumption: that education must be made an open, interconnected chain of learning opportunities, available to people from cradle to grave, i.e., a "learning society." Learning is examined in the following three distinct, but interrelated, domains: the domain of work; the domain of the community; and the…