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For the author, "globalization" and "lifelong learning" are the epitome of disengagement in the economic and/or the pedagogic field. Using the genre of meditation, he develops the concept of disengagement - a shedding of limitations - by the example of disasters, markets, exacting demands in the context of learning, the power of the economy, the responsibilities for education. Reflecting on Comenius and Ralf Dahrendorf, the author tries to “bring the amok-running economism back to its senses” a…
Vocational continuing education by gainfully employed persons – the explanatory power of activity-related features for continuing education behaviour Socio-demographic, company and employment data is often used to explain continuing education behaviour of individuals. Even though continuing education needs arise directly in the job context, job-related aspects are less frequently taken into account – not least due to the availability of data. This has been made possible, however, by a repres…
An idyll of inclusion and exclusion? The article brings into question the ongoing debate about inclusion/exclusion. For this purpose it draws attention to the circularity of the used arguments being composed of democracy – social inclusion – education. Hence, the paper is aimed at discussing the interdependence of these components, focussing in particular on the ambivalent position of adult/further education in this dynamic. The reference to the work of Jacques Rancière, an influential Frenc…
Movement and experience as the breeding ground of learning From the perspective of experiential pedagogic the two authors develop an outline for experience and action-oriented practice in adult education. They examine in detail the hypotheses confirmed by brain research that the body is the actual site of human learning. This allows them to create the basis for a didactical setting conducive to learning which is heavily based on physical body-related experience in nature and in the communit…
A third of all families in Germany have a background of migration, which offers a great educational potential for family education. The author points out the increased risk situation of this heterogeneous group and warns against the misleading label as a »target group of particular circumstances«. She gives best practice examples and pleads for the intercultural opening of educational institutions.
The contribution reports central thoughts of the American psychologist Csikszentmihalyi from the book “FLOW“, and it sharpens the statements on the reality of learners and teachers. “Flow“ stands for the “optimum experience“. Therewith Csikszentmihalyi indicates a feeling of high spirits, of deeply felt joy that lasts long and that occurs when body and soul of a person is strained to limits in the voluntary endeavour to achieve something difficult and something valuable. In this condition, orde…
In view of the demographic change the investments in education for elderly population are becoming increasingly more important. At the same time the educational system’s endeavours of repair are rather targeted at the very young. How can the educational investments be divided usefully between the old and the young? By showing examples of Scandinavian countries, the author elucidates a double strategy of high educational investments for the phase of youth and in adult life. The countries have su…
Mathematics, natural science and engineering are not among the most favourite learning objectives of either pupils or adults. While they do enjoy a high esteem, they are also perceived as difficult. The authors discuss why this should be so, and give a summary over participation statistics of Volkshochschulen in the past decades, where courses in mathematics, science or technical matters have been on the decline for some time. Against this background, they present aims and methods of their proj…
The author discusses the way in which scientific knowledge and results of research are made public. He questions Gordon Shepherd’s assertion that scientists themselves are best qualified for a transmission of their results to the interested public, and rather makes a case for the expert as a mediator. In order to do so, he identifies the characteristics of science versus expertise, and defines the expert as one who, in addition to the knowledge required, also possesses communicative skill, disc…
The article describes the project „Deutscher Bildungsserver“ which is working as a meta-server to supply users with an information system of relevant data in the field of education, adult and further education. The internet is offering big quantities of information and the chance to build up complex documents. Both make it more difficult to select and evaluate information. The „Deutscher Bildungsserver“ incorporates information critically bringing it into an order making it easier for users to …
