A significant demographic shift in community colleges reveals that more than half of enrolled students are adults aged 25 and older. In response, states are instituting reconnect programs aimed at recruiting and reengaging adult learners. Despite these initiatives, existing processes and practices within community colleges often inadequately…

Adult education and learning in Germany are under pressure from attempts by right-wing extremist actors to increase their influence on structures, target groups, and programmes. This paper presents qualitative data from a survey of actors in different adult education and learning areas. They report on various incidents of right-wing influence.…

This paper, primarily based on a literature review, considers the utilization of adult learning principles in training learners to operate high risk equipment. Vocational Education and Training sectors throughout the world are traditionally responsible for training delivery in these areas where generally andragogical principles as defined by…

People often have difficulty in understanding processes of biological change, and they typically reject drastic life cycle changes such as metamorphosis, except for animals with which they are familiar. Even after a lesson about metamorphosis, people often do not generalize to animals not seen during the lesson. This might be partially due to the…

As the world's population continues to grow older, retired individuals seek out musical experiences. Many of these musicians are returning to playing in a wind band for the first time in decades, so they are, in essence, beginners again. The learning experiences of adults of returning to band contains both physical and social barriers but…

Adult learning and leadership concepts have received heightened interest in recent years as enrollment of students ages 25 to 34 years at degree-granting postsecondary institutions increased 35 percent between 2001 and 2015 and is projected to increase 11 percent between 2015 and 2026. The U.S. Bureau of the Census (2019) recently reported that…

People often have difficulty understanding processes of biological change, and they typically reject drastic life cycle changes such as metamorphosis, except for animals with which they are familiar. Even after a lesson about metamorphosis, people often do not generalize to animals not seen during the lesson. This might be partially due to the…

The use of navigation applications changed the way people find their way in an unfamiliar environment. A combination of maps, images and textual route instructions shown (or with audio) on one screen guides the user to the destination but may sometimes be overwhelming. This article investigated the spatial knowledge participants acquired after…

Adult learners in community college encounter barriers in a world that does not recognize their needs. This action research investigation explored the barriers adult learners faced in a community college in California and examined how targeted academic counseling interventions informed the students about essential supports and services available…

In January 2024, UNCF's Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI) published "Adult Learner Initiative External Report," which outlined key findings and recommendations from an evaluation of the Adult Learner Initiative. To supplement and extend that work, Ascendium Education Group collaborated with FDPRI and Lumina Foundation to…

This article explores the transformation of courses among online, traditional, and hybrid modalities with a special focus on transforming an online course into a traditional classroom format. While there has been much written about transforming courses from traditional to online, especially as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has not…

Self-directed learning (SDL) has become increasingly important in today's fast-paced and ever-changing society. This paper explores SDL's historical evolution, theoretical foundations, and practical applications, particularly in online environments. SDL is defined as a personal attribute and a process that empowers learners to take the initiative…

Contemporary higher education institutions are marked by diverse, internationalized classrooms that bring together various linguistic and cultural backgrounds. However, realizing the full potential of this diversity poses challenges, as academics, key players in maximizing the benefits of international classrooms, often lack the necessary…

This study examined nontraditional students using linguistic inquiry and word count (LIWC) of their reflective writing assignments. Participants included 364 adult students enrolled in a degree completion program. Data comprised a multiweek reflective writing assignment and demographic data, linguistically and statistically analyzed. The study…

The purpose of this study was to determine what routine aspects of ensemble participation, if any, activated New Horizons members' feelings of belonging. Members of two New Horizons ensembles responded to an anonymous-online questionnaire in which they indicated the degree with which they agreed with statements that linked specific aspects of…