adult_learning

EAD860 - Concept of a Learning Society interested me because I had now explored the basics of each of my interest areas and this course had the potential to connect them all . Wieland's class didn't involve much interaction with the other students, but we sure did engage with great ideas. We read several books and numerous articles and web resources over the course of eight modules.

The objective of the course was to complete a very brief essay at the close of each module. I've attached examples of these assignments at the end of this page.

Studying adult learning resulted in interesting spillovers from the topics I knew we'd be covering. Many of the 'differences' that adults demand from educational systems to enable their learning also potentially benefit all learners. Studying adult learning therefore, calls for studying learning broadly, and challenges us to focus more on learning then on the practice of instruction. Adult learning also reminds us that although we are educators, people are very able to learn on their own and many thrive outside traditional formal learning environments.

Continuing my lifelong learning journey in the summer of 2006, I again turned to my profession for inspiration when considering my course options. I chose to enroll in EAD861 Adult Learning because many of the faculty I'd worked with over the years were teaching students in online Masters programs intended for professionals. I'd been introduced through a community of practice in our office and my own professional organizations to the concepts of andragogy and understood that adult learners may have different needs than traditional students.