Adult Education and Social Change: A Practitioners Guide

1. Adult Education and Social Change: A Practitioners Guide

2. Module 1: Understanding Adult Education

3. Introduction What Is Adult Education? “…Whereby persons regarded as adult by the society to which they belong develop their abilities, enrich their knowledge, improve their professional qualifications and bring about turn in their attitudes and behavior in a twofold perspective of full personal development and participation in a balanced and independent social, economic and cultural development”. - UNESCO

4. Introduction • Adult education practices have been part of human tradition • Established as field of practice during Industrial Revolution, out of growing concern over education accessibility tailored to diverse needs and need for skill up gradation • 50’s & 60’s, literacy was recognized as fundamental to individual development • 20th century has seen key developments taking place worldwide in political, social, economic and technological spheres leading to a knowledge society where skill is becoming as important as basic literacy

5. Unit 1 The Theory and Praxis of AE Adult education is not just literacy. It aims to enable adults to improve skills and knowledge of people so that they can fully and effectively function in their daily lives and social contexts • Adult learners already come with experiences and knowledge that can and should be used in AE efforts effectively • Objectives of AE is to build dignity and self-esteem of learner • Goal - Oriented (Problem Solving) • Holistic, People-centered (Indigenous Knowledge) • Different Approaches • Lifelong learning • Participatory

6. Unit 1 The Theory And Praxis of AE Indigenous knowledge (IK) can give AE an alternative way of dealing with issues • Holistic, people-centered approach that acknowledges learning in family, community, inter-personal interactions and workplace • Knowledge cannot be confined to formal education institutions; resides in people, oral histories, songs, and folk tales Case Study from Botswana Learning centered around problem solving • In an HIV/AIDs plagued community, the treatment of issues are central to learning priorities for adult learners • Learning is therefore experience-centered Aboriginal Education in Australia

7. Unit 2 Critical Perspectives In Adult Education Andragogy: Describes a learning approach centered around adults to differentiate between teaching children (pedagogy) and adults (andragogy)

8. Unit 2 Critical Perspectives In Adult Education • Role of the instructor is to be a facilitator • Methodology focuses on case studies, role playing, simulations, and self-evaluation • A teacher is also a recipient of knowledge • The content and result of learning is as valuable as the process and journey of learning is

9. Unit 3 Critical Perspectives In Adult Education

10. Unit 2 Critical Perspectives In Adult Education Why use Adult Education for Social Change? AE allows for collective and conscious learning leading to a more just society Example: Feminist Movement During mid-1980’s, feminist movement fought for recognition of women’s knowledge and goal to achieve representation in public sphere

11. Summary Key Points to Remember • Adult Education (AE) emerged in mid-nineteenth century but its momentum came after WWII • Andragogy has been reinterpreted and redefined to reflect various learning needs of adults • There remain challenges and resistance because adults are comfortable with routines and want to know why a change is needed in their lifestyles • Must be based on idea of lifelong learningi.e. to create multiple options for adults to learn throughout life