What is the future of Adult Education?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Marie on April 12, 2008 at 7:29pm

In some ways adult education is at the forefront of embracing technology (compared to schools). Universities all offer distance learning to meet the needs of adult learners as you described. Learning is becoming more flexible as students can study with more than one provider (say for a degree) and can, within parameters, work at their own pace. Compare this with twenty years ago - I think only the Open University offered an alternative form of study besides being on campus.

Marie

Permalink Reply by James O'Reilly on July 25, 2008 at 1:44am

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Permalink Reply by Barry Bakin on July 25, 2008 at 11:02am

Adult education has a strong future, but as others have indicated, the exact form that it takes may change. Adult educators who are willing to diversify and obtain skills (not unlike the process their students are undertaking) will be in a better position to keep on working as the profession changes.

Permalink Reply by kosh on July 27, 2008 at 12:37pm

I am all for adult education. In Ghana from where i come from, there are millions of people who do not have any form of education at all. Unfortunately some politicians use that to their advantage so they are not willing to educate the populace. To educate those people will require a lot of money, time and the sort of technology will will reach millions at the same time. that is where the challenge is. Nevertheless we are finding a way to surmount that in our own small way.

Permalink Reply by Marian Thacher on February 11, 2009 at 6:10pm

You remind me that we are lucky here in the states. We are constantly trying to improve our adult education system, and to get more funding to be able to serve more people, to provide more and better professional development for our teachers. But at least we have a system, with a long and proud history. Education and literacy are worldwide issues, and the more technology develops, the more we have opportunities to share resources and ideas across borders.

Has anyone heard of or worked with Teachers Without Borders? I have just explored the site a little bit. It's a volunteer organization and looks pretty interesting.