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The article is based on the assumption that there is a dialectical correlation between biography and society. The authors develop an analytical category to better conceptually capture the influence of education policy frameworks through individuals’ professional performance. The main focus will be on the life stories of two figures which are pivotal for the development of the Hessian or even German history of adult education: Walter Korn and Rudi Rohlmann.
The author has collected self-reports of functional illiterates and questioned them on their “joy potential“. Three qualitatively set up analyses of the 1990s serve as sources. The contribution shows that the participation in literacy courses can cause a significant increase of self-confidence by overcoming experiences of deficit. The experience of attention and support is seen as encouraging and it contributes considerably to take over responsibility for one’s own life.
Working biographies today do not last for life. The author describes the concepts of labour entrepreneur as a new type of labour which means that employees put their competence to the market. Characteristics of the labour entrepreneur is responsibilityfor the organisation and the marketing of one’s own competence. As a consequence in adult education didactical and methodical concepts for the interpretation and self-reflection of one’s own biography have to be developed.
Movement shapes the brain: findings of brain research bearing relevance to learning This article provides an overview of what influence athletics and movement has on brain processes. Based on several studies, it is shown that various forms of movement cause numerous types of adaptation at the cellular, molecular and neurochemical level which influence emotional, social and cognitive processes. It is also noted that by the same token there are gradual differences in these factors at various a…
The article deals with the concept of self-competence, the importance of which has been growing in andragogy in the course of the individualization of professional life. Thereby the theoretical and empirical analysis focuses on the ´explanation´ of the term and its effects on the individuum. After the description of fundamental developments which cause the emergence of the topica theorectical and empirical modelling of (self-)competences follows. As a conclusion, consequences for the theory and…
The reorientation of vocational further education through the Hartz laws, with their introduction of education vouchers, the drastic cutting of expenses for vocational education and complementing orders issued by the Bundesanstalt für Arbeit (federal head institution of employment exchanges) add to an increase in unemployment: institutions in Further Education must reduce their numbers of courses, close down branch offices, and dismiss employees; holders of education vouchers remain without fur…
The article illustrates a heuristic model that describes the multidimensional interdisciplinary social phenomena of functional illiteracy in a clearly arranged way. To implement professional literacy programmes that match the different target groups, scientific findings about educational deprivation, life circumstances and barriers to equal participation in connection with low literacy skills are to be arranged in a proper order. One result of the research project “HABIL” is the development of …
Citizens’ involvement increasingly gains appreciation in the public perception. Also in the adult pedagogical discourse the attention is raised in the context of lifelong learning. In this contribution the author discusses how learning processes in adult education, that take place in a societal action context, can be supported, guided or even initiated. On the basis of own empirical inquiries the author examines citizens’ involvement as an action- and learning field and asks for learning experi…
Demographic change renders basic skills important at an increasingly older age. Among them, skills in financial matters are becoming increasingly rele- vant. The skills measured in PIAAC and CiLL represent comprehensive cognitive abilities which can be seen as the basis for successful participation in social and economic life. Based on a secondary analysis, this paper shows that financial prac- tices remain for older people, although their numeracy skills proficiency lower than those of younger…
In this article we explore the challenges of learning in later life, in particular intergenerational or cross generational learning for the future. Looking to the policy of the European Union (EU), in particular to lifelong learning, we see how the notion for intergenerational and intercultural learning has been embedded more and more into policy. The question is if this makes sense, or better: how will it make sense? Senior education is transforming in intergenerational learning – intergenerat…
