Research
We explore how adult education can be made inclusive, digital and effective.
Services
Digital tools, specialist portals and data – for teachers, researchers, students and interested parties.
Institute
We offer research, transfer and infrastructure for lifelong learning.
After the federal elections, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has taken on a new organisational structure. For the first time, its activities in further education are now bundled together in a seperate department (»Lifelong Learning, Further Education«), thus enabling the ministry to »speak with one voice«. On top of this, the superior department is »University, Further Education«, which shows that the two are considered as equivalent from the organisationalpolitical viewpoint.
Research on humans and animals gives evidence for the fact that older beings learn more slowly than younger ones, yet for this very reason they are able to build up internal representations of the true values to be learned in an increasingly more precise manner. Through frequent repetition general structures of experiences are learned. Thus, a decreasing rate of learning that comes with old age is just one side of the coin.
Die Zukunftsfähigkeit von Bildungssystemen hängt davon ab, wie gut die Übergänge zwischen Sektoren bewältigt werden können. Für die Weiterbildung stellen sich an Übergängen vielfältige Herausforderungen. Sie kann durch Überbrückungsangebote den Transfer für Benachteiligte erleichtern, an Übergängen beratend tätig werden oder Fortbildungen für Professionelle an Übergängen konzipieren. Das Heft will klären, wie sehr das Konzept des „lebenslangen Lernens“ Durchlässigkeit hierzulande befördert und …
Im Motto »Reisen bildet« trifft eine pädagogische Binsenweisheit auf einen Slogan der Tourismusindustrie. In unserem Sommerheft fragen wir genauer nach: Unter welchen Bedingungen hat eine Reise ein bildendes Potenzial? Welche Kompetenzen lassen sich auf Reisen erwerben? Es spricht einiges dafür, dass gerade das individuelle Reisen neben der organisierten Bildungsreise ein Potenzial hat, das unter den Vorzeichen des lebenslangen Lernens eine vertiefte Betrachtung verdient.
Die Frage nach der Lernfähigkeit und der Lernmotivation Älterer hat eine lange Geschichte. Trotz vieler gegenteiliger Belege hielt sich bis in die zweite Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts die Annahme, dass die Lernfähigkeit kontinuierlich, biologisch bedingt, abnimmt. In den 1980ern Jahren kam es zu einem Perspektivenwechsel. Schon damals zeichnete ich ein demographischer Wandel ab. Alter - bisher vor allem ein medizinisches Thema - wurde nun auch sozialwissenschaftlich und pädagogisch diskutiert. In…
Educational research is often focused on biographies. Literacy and basic education frequently use knowledge about biographies as a means for educational support within the scope of catch-up education (“second chance”). The article discusses how biographically generated knowledge can be transferred into pedagogical practice. The authors give up on the idea of a direct “utilization” of biographical insights into practical work – the yield is rather to indirectly stimulate and irritate professiona…
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…
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…
Learning along biographical and career changes Based on a biographical sample from adult education centres (VHS), this article discusses the concept of research on learning environments. The factors for success will be evaluated together with reflections on how to prepare for an executive position in such institutions. This will allow for extracting conditions for learning in certain biographical settings. The challenge for learning is seen as a result of the individual’s changing reception…