Assignment 5: ACE E-Archive

EDAC 631 E-Archive Fall 2014 Final

631 Adult/Community Education E-Archive

Assignment 1: Jen Warrner (organizer & PowerPoint); Assignment 2: Sarah Smurr  (organizer & PowerPoint) commented on group 4 and 5; Assignment 3: Carrie Clymer; Assignment 4: Nina Monstwillo; Ideas of Adult/Community Education: All  

Assignment 1: History of Adult/Community Education

Introduction:  Lifelong learning opportunities have been available to adults for centuries.  Learning about the history of adult and community education helps to show how this field has changed and evolved over time.  Throughout history, adult education opportunities have positively impacted individuals, communities, and the world.             

Significant Points:

• Adult education has been prevalent throughout history.  

• This is significant because this demonstrates that adult education is an established field. Historically, these learning opportunities might not have been labeled as adult education.  This long history of learning opportunities shows that adult education is important.          

• Historical events have influenced adult education.
• This is significant because this shows that adult education has changed and evolved over time.  From the Women’s Movement to the Civil Rights Movement, historical events have impacted the types of adult education that are offered and who has access to adult education.

• Governments and multiple legislative acts have supported adult education.

• This is significant because having government support provides funding and awareness for adult education. Without this support, fewer adult education opportunities would be offered, and fewer adults would benefit from lifelong learning opportunities.

Assignment 2:  Leading Adult/Community Educators

Introduction: Throughout history, professionals from various backgrounds, industries, and ethic groups have impacted adult education. The diversity of these professionals has helped to shape the field of adult education.

Significant Points:

• The individuals who shaped adult/community ed. come from many backgrounds.
• It is significant because anyone really can make a difference.  The main difference is they took action, and action is what creates change.
• The individuals who make a difference in this field often do not do so at the front.
• This is significant because that is unique to this field.  Individual leaders find ways to empower others.  Their aim is not power.  They is others how to find and use their own power.
• The people who make a difference have passion that usually comes from personal experience. 
• This is significant because the most powerful motivator for individual action seems to be caring a lot about a cause.  People are almost compelled to act, and they in turn inspire others to act.

Assignment 3: Unique Adult/Community Education Programs

Introduction:  A group made up of like-minded individuals becomes a community with a common goal.  Those communities structure and deliver education to adults who would like to increase their diversity and knowledge through vast course offering from leadership development to focusing on a specific subject.

Significant Points:

• Adult Education Programs have grown to combine pervious run organizations so the organizations are able reach a wider audience to provide diversity to the community and society.
• This is important because it allows individuals to experience the same type of education and learning that other individuals are receiving from other parts of the county.
• Adult Education Programs have gone more away from having only one focus for their organization to now the programs have more offerings such as different classes, teaching of life skills, and various other activities to improve the community.
• This is significant because it gives adult individuals an opportunity to capture skills that they could use to have more opportunities to better themselves. 
• These programs are often created to teach skills and leadership to individuals that can learn without guidance. 
• This is significant because with the fast pace society of today, adult are still able to increase their knowledge and better themselves.

Assignment 4: Important Adult Education Associations

Introduction:  While learning about important adult education organizations, it is easy to recognize the impact these organizations have upon the growth and development of future adult and community education.  

Significant Points:

• Membership has grown significantly throughout the years:

• This is important because this allows these organizations to broaden their outreach and bring increased awareness to adult and community education programs.

• Becoming a part of these organizations connect individuals working towards a shared vision:
• This is significant because through connecting and networking, individuals can open up dialogue about what really matters to them and to their communities.

• These organizations often reflect and build upon the growing and changing needs of adult education.
• This is significant because as communities grow and change, so do the needs of adult education.  By reflecting on these changes and opening up the dialogue to change - the future growth of the program will develop cohesively and without falling apart. 

Introduction of Adult/Community Education

Nina’s Perspective:  Adult and Community Education is a program where individuals come together to learn and discuss the growing and changing needs of learning and teaching for the adult and the community. 

Sarah’s Perspective:  Adult and community education is about individuals making a tangible difference for themselves and their families, for their communities, and even the world.  Sometimes change can seem overwhelming.  But the benefits of a more educated population, a more active community, and more caring individuals happen when each person makes an effort to create change.  The goal is for there to be ripple effects that make life better.

Carrie’s Perspective:  Adult and Community Education is a program that allows leaders and individuals to come together to compile ideas and to learn from each other to take back what they have learned to teach the community or organization

Jen’s Perspective:  Adult education is about lifelong and continuous learning.  This learning can be for personal or professional reasons and can be formal or informal. Regardless of the purpose or format, all forms of adult education are about gaining new knowledge or skills.  By gaining new knowledge and skills, adult learners not only improve themselves but have the ability to also positively impact their communities and the world.