Paper Topic:

The Adult Learner in the 21st Century and Beyond

19 ADULT LEARNING1

Adult Learning in the 21st Century and Beyond Client 's Name College Instructor Subject Outline 1 . Abstract

1 . Statistical Introduction

3 . Thesis

2 . Body

a . Evolution of the Adult Learner (i ) Philosophy and Practice (ii ) Reasons to Undertake Education

b . Factors affecting Curriculum for Adult Learning (i ) Technological Changes (ii ) The IT Revolution (iii ) Cultural and Demographic Changes (iv ) Immigration (v ) The Competitive Edge

c . Future Influences and Outcomes on Adult Learning (i ) Distance Learning and IT revolution (ii ) Advantages to the Adult Learner

p 3 . Conclusion

Abstract

The practice of teaching and imparting education to adults is known as Adult education . Adult education and the manner in which it is conducted have undergone a drastic change when compared to the way it was imparted earlier . In the past , the focus of all adult education programmes was on apprentice /artisan skills related programmes wherein the students prepared to take over the family business (like carpentry , farming blacksmith etc ) from their father . Adult education classes are often conducted in the workplace , through extension or continuing education courses at secondary schools , or at a college or university or at community colleges , and lifelong learning centers

In to distinguish it from pedagogy , it is also referred to as Andragogy . In The Modern Practice of Adult Education (1970 , Knowles defined andragogy as "an emerging technology for adult learning Knowles and Shephard , Modern Practice of Adult Education : From Pedagogy to Androgogy

Follett Pub . Co (1970 ,pp 351 . A difference is made between vocational education , mostly done in workplaces and mostly related to upgrading skills , and non-formal adult education , that can include learning skills or learning for personal development . Today , an estimated 21 million men and women are taking some form of adult education . The motivating factor for students enrolling for adult learning classes varies from person to person . Some attend adult learning classes because they had dropped out of school due to unforeseen compulsions , others do so to earn a basic qualification to get a better job , and yet others to remain competitive in their existing jobs Adult Learning in the 21st Century and Beyond Statistical Introduction National Assessment of Adult Learning (NAAL report of 2003 indicated that 14 of adults in the U .S . i .e .30million people are estimated to be in the Below Basic Literacy category for prose , and that 5 are estimated to be Nonliterate in English . This implies that there exist within the USA , 30 million people who are functionally illiterate . The Government annual funding can however only provide for 3 million adult learners to participate in federally funded literacy programs at a cost of 190 per student per year . Proliteracy Policy Update2003 ,NAAL and http /www .proliteracy .org /downloads /policy_update /ProLiteracy_Policy-Up date_12-15-05 .pdf , extracted on 24 June 07

As per the cost estimate report for Sep 2003 submitted by the Congressional Budget office (CBO , assuming appropriations at the authorized level of 2004 , and catering for inflation in subsequent years , CBO estimates that outlays would 2004-2008 periods...

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