Trends in Adult Higher Education:

1. Trends in Adult Higher Education: Preparing the information workforce Carol Kasworm

2. OBSOLETE Knowledge– ? Past ways of understanding knowledge is problematic • Distributors of Knowledge as STATIC UNITS – • Information delivery is insufficient response • Human Learning in ACTION – • Knowledge creation and use • Reframing life and work challenges • Skills to consider past assumptions and understandings. Challenges to our world

3. Information Technology + Books – Human learning in Action

4. Prepare knowledge workers but also skilled creators and innovators

5. Creative Contextual Authentic Learning • Digital age support • Cyclical access and • Universal participation • Critically Reflective Engagement- • Learning for continuous change ---Knowledge creation ---Changing mind frames – paradigms Three Key Trends:

6. Authentic, Contextual Learning Trend in dramatic increase and blurring of credit and noncredit offerings - in basic and advanced knowledge focused on authentic, contextual learning

7. Community and higher education environments, as well as professional groups and associations • Significant Growth of providers and adult participants • Projected that 70-80% professionals in learning • Work environments • Four OECD countries – 35% of adults participated in non formal work-related learning • US – 52% of adults participated in formal training/ learning – prodominantly focused upon work topics. • Individual self-directed learning environments Significant Growth

8. Learning in Action. Experiential engagement. • Authentic tasks in creative problem-solving • Understanding through application and adaptation through embodied learning ( noncognitive) • Solving “non-routine problems” • Innovative instructional designs – active learning, problem-based learning. • Social networked learning Authentic, contextual learning

9. Digital providers: Access and Participation

10. Programs and providers – interwoven with digital content, delivery, communications • Underskilledadult learners – • Continuous adult learners – • Consumer, “just-in-time” learners • Issue of identifying “QUALITY” adult learning - Providers of adult learning

11. CRITICALLY REFLECTIVE PRACTICE = KNOWLEDGE CREATION

12. New Knowledge Workers – Needed competencies: Integrating contextual knowledge with influential “tacit”understandings Critically reflective learning Using social tools – e-tools in creative Participate in socially heterogenous, multi- cultural gorupings new knowledge – New Opportunities

13. Our work – “Learner as Innovative Expert” • Develop and research critically reflective skills - • Enhance within adult learners: • Capacity for self- invention • Creative problem-solving & reflective stance • Non-routine framing of life tasks • Creative class – individuals involved in creation of new economic possibilities – 30% of new economic development Critically reflective adult learners

14. Past era - providing stable, proven knowledge and skills • New era - creating learners who are in a self-directed learning journey – towards developing new understandings, actions, and applications. • Creative class – individuals creation of 30% new economic possibilities • Creative community of practice– work units and organizations Focusing upon critical reflective learning

15. Innovation and Creativity are the Future! For Dialogue and Exchange: Carol_kasworm@ncsu.edu

16. Rockefeller Institute Report A New Paradigm for Economic Development: How Higher Education Institutions Are Working to Revitalize Their Regional and State Economies www.rockinst.org March 10, 2010 Key drivers of economic development and community revitalization. • Applying research for new ideas that will strengthen the country’s competitive edge in the new economy • Knowledge-focused services to businesses and other employers, including customized job-training programs, hands-on counseling, technical help, and management assistance. • Leadership in the cultural, social, and educational revitalization of their home communities. • Educating people to succeed in the innovation age. Additional Resource: