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Die vorliegende Arbeit versteht sich als Beitrag zur Professionalisierungsdebatte in der Erwachsenenbildung. Sie bringt auf der Basis einer empirischen Untersuchung im Bereich Kulturelle Bildung an der Volkshochschule neue Aspekte in die Betrachtung der freiberuflichen MitarbeiterInnen ein. In bewußter Abkehr von der vorherrschenden normativen Perspektive ist der Ausgangspunkt hier die zunächst grundsätzliche Anerkennung der unterrichtlichen Handlungskompetenz von KursleiterInnen. Diese Kompete…
Course teachers who cooperate in quality assurance programmes of their institutions tend to find this work gratifying in various ways: they improve their professional background, they get to look at their institutions from a new and interesting angle, and they profit from organisational improvements arising from quality projects. If, however, excessive expectations are addressed to them in the course of the quality discussion, these may readily be reflected back onto the institution and its inf…
Starting out with deliberations on the relationship between the course of life and the constructed biography of an individual, this article intends to elucidate the contexts of learning as they are treated in various (inter-)national studies, by focusing on the individual’s course of life. To clarify which methodological design is most appropriate to study processes of (lifelong) learning and education, it then seems necessary to highlight a particular methodological approach. This leads, ultim…
The article focuses on the characteristics of the virtual seminar form of »online group learning«. The online programme »Marketing for Continuing Educators« , which is part of the correspondence course »Adult Education« by the Distance & Independent Studies Centre at the technical University of Kaiserslautern, indicates the course of seminars of this sort. The role and function of presenting this type of seminar is particularly analyzed. Also, critical issues such as the anonymity of individual…
Little is known about the qualifications of trainers in further vocational education. Some hold a degree in educational sciences. At the same time prospective trainers seem to be part of the target group of programs that specialize in adult education. The study focuses on which contents are intended in these programs and whether they could qualify for a later occupational activity as a training professional. For this purpose the course descriptions of 32 programs were analyzed and 10 responsibl…
For various reasons adult participation in lifelong learning does not measure up to expectations tied to the agenda of lifelong learning. The article suggests that adults relate learning activities to their conceptions of life stages. Therefore, participation in institutionalized continuing education must rather be linked to life-stage-dependant decisions based on sociocultural patterns than to the acceptance of lifelong learning in general. Specifically in the stage of professional life, these…
The “European Master in Adult Education“. Transnational courses of study as the fruit of the Bologna process Proceeding from the documents of the Bologna process, the contribution directs its gaze at the European dimension in study programmes at European universities. In the area of adult education a joint study programme of eight universities and the German Institute for Adult Education has a pioneering role. The “European Master in Adult Education“ (EMAE), developed in the context of an Era…
The paper is based upon a qualitative-empirical study in the field of basic education for adults (literacy, numeracy, language, and computer skills). The study is located in the andragogical research on teaching and learning. A constitutive characteristic of the examined basic skills courses is the variety of the participants. The variety is both, didactical challenge and potential, for it enables teaching and learning interactions. With interpreting some data examples the paper aims to show ho…
New responsibility for older people. “Senior citizen trainers“ in the EFI Programme: training concept and fields of activity This article presents a continuing education strategy with which older people are prepared for voluntary work as senior citizen trainers. The six-week course was developed in the model programme “experiential knowledge for initiatives” (briefly: EFI), which was funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth over a five-year period,…
Stepped courses of studies and professionalization of adult education Reflections against the background of first experiences at the Ruhr-University Bochum The contribution takes the occasion of the dynamics of reform, with the transposition of the study into two cycles, to show policy-making decisions which need to be made for the study offers in the area of adult education. One important point of reference is the question, as to what extent the reform counteracts the efforts concerning pr…
