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This paper brings into focus the discourse on competences and reviews critically the potential of large-scale assessments. The measurement of competences in adulthood is a step towards a deeper understanding of the development of competences during the life course, although only domain specific and not general competences are taken into consideration. Based on the current research, the debate on competences will be reflected and the central points in the field of modeling the constructs of skil…
Concept maps in the teaching-learning context Concept maps are understood to mean two-dimensional structural presentations of knowledge or information in the form of a network. This article explains the principle of the concept map, including in relation to the mind map, and sums up results of teaching-learning research for its use. Readers find out what purposes concept maps can be used for (e.g. knowledge diagnostics), how their learning efficacy is assessed and what factors can boost th…
The aim of the paper is to give an overview of key issues involved in recognising non-formal and informal learning, ranging from the legitimacy of the learning activities in terms of the outcomes to be recognised, through the cost of the necessary assessment, and essential elements such as quality assurance, the standards used, the potential benefits and the real obstacles. The findings summarised here are based on a report that describes and analyses practices in the 22 countries that particip…
This study starts from a dilemma which has been observed in adult basic education. On the one hand the use of assessments is regarded as supportive in order to determine in detail the learning needs of adults. On the other hand it is to be expected that persons with experiences of performing inadequately show justified anxieties or resistances in connection with test situations. I have chosen a research approach, which follows Holzkamp’s concept of a subject-scientific learning theory (1995), b…
It has recently become widely accepted that reluctance to learning in adults may be explained by features inherent in the (presentation of the) subject matter, which may be perceived by the learner as being unsuited to his or her needs. A successful learning environment, the argument goes, must meet certain standards: for instance, learning should be active, self-directed, situated and constructive. Reluctance to learning in explained as a negative reaction to the absence of these standards. Th…
Das Verhältnis von Theorie und Praxis ist spannungsvoll. Aus Sicht der in der Erwachsenenbildung Tätigen erscheinen Theorien häufig unbrauchbar, weil sie zu abstrakt und praxisfern wirken. Hier baut der Studientext eine Brücke. Der Autor zeigt in seiner vollständig aktualisierten und erweiterten 3. Auflage verschiedene in der Erwachsenenbildung gängige Theorieansätze auf, verortet sie hinsichtlich Herkunft und Reichweite und verweist auf ihre Bedeutung für die Planung und Gestaltung von Bildun…
Die Autorin untersucht kulturbezogenes Lernen in DaF- und DaZ-Kursen und betont die Bedeutung von Sprache und Diskurs. Dabei hebt sie die Notwendigkeit eines dynamischen Verständnisses von Gesellschaft und Kultur hervor und plädiert für einen offeneren und wertschätzenden Umgang mit Mehrsprachigkeit.
