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What is Adult Education?
Meaning
Adult education refers to any program for adults not already engaged in formal study.
History
M.S. Knowles noted the term "adult education" was practically unknown in the United States until 1924.
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Adult education can include a variety of activities. This may have contributed to the delay in the official naming.
Types
Formal - university setting
Informal - museums
Non-formal - everyday life
Snapshot of Adult & Community Education
What does Adult & Community Education look like? Citizens can look to civic organizations, informal associations, religious groups, home life, and formal education institutions (see Figure 1). Citizens need to see value in the workshops and see buy in from other community members.
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What does A&CE look like in practice? Citizens can see physical, cognitive, social, and cultural aspects to the education that influence community members. Citizens can begin to identify value in learning, diversity, and employment.
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Examples of Adult & Community Education
Two examples of A&CE are Minnetrista and the Smithsonian Institution.
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Minnetrista is located in Muncie, Indiana and has a vision of being a community that takes pride and looks forward to its bright future. They offer a Farmer's Market, workshops, gallery exhibits, and The Orchard Shop. Learn more about Minnetrista here.
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The Smithsonian Institution is located in Washington, DC and offers diverse and enriching programs for Lifelong Learners, both in-person and online. It is the largest museum-based education program in the world. They offer EdX courses (many of them free of charge), digitized collections, 3D digital models, podcasts, blogs, and more. Learn more about the Smithsonian Institution here.
References
Deggs, D., & Miller, M. (2011). Developing Community Expectations: The Critical Role of Adult Education. American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, 25-30.
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Events for Adults. Retrieved on April 2, 2024 from Minnetrista: https://www.minnetrista.net/events-for-adults
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Lifelong Learners. Retrieved on April 2, 2024 from Smithsonian Institution: https://www.si.edu/learn/lifelong-learners
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Stubblefield, H. W., & Rachal, J. R. (1992). On the Origins of the term and meanings of "Adult Education" in the United States. Adult Education Quarterly, 106-116.
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