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The Need for Comparative Research on the History of Adult Education and its Challenges Research on the history of adult education has been established as a sub-discipline of adult educational science – however, mainly in a national context. Even nowadays comparative research on the history of adult education is still a step-child of research, facing major challenges which are consequently also problems of presentation.
In the usually clearly word- and text-oriented research field of adult education, for a while now, approaches have been observed, which understand visual presentations as data to be analyzed in a methodically controlled way. These data are used in order to generate and substantiate knowledge about adult education, whereby intensity, contexts, theoretical background and methods or methodology are different. This article presents these approaches in the research fields focusing on students, progr…
The author presents examples of good practice and defines central tasks and processes of modern libraries, which are regarded as central learning spaces for adults. Using the criteria »shortage – surplus«, »consumption – co-creation« and »product – process«, the relevant social challenges for libraries and adult education are described. It becomes evident that libraries and adult education are in a period of transition, which requires suitable architectural solutions.
Temporalized “Bildungsgestalten” (educational formations) – The formation of the subject in the context of Lifelong Learning The article outlines the reference framework of an ongoing DFG-financed research project. Based on theoretical assumptions which rest upon German Bildungstheorie the project analyses Lifelong Learning as a special mode of the formation of subjects. The projects’ core research concept, which brings into focus the importance of education for the formation of the subjec…
Receptive or hostile to continuing education? Course tutors caught between the pressure to conform and resistance This article presents the results of a qualitative dissertation. The author has investigated the acceptance of adult education teacher training courses among part-time and freelance teachers based on the example of the initial adult education teacher training qualification offered by the North Rhine Westphalia VHS (adult education centre) regional association. For the issue of a…
Weiterbildungseinrichtungen haben das Problem, ihr Angebot zwischen pädagogischem Anspruch und wirtschaftlichem Druck positionieren zu müssen. Diese qualitativ-empirische Untersuchung zeigt, welche Faktoren diese Entscheidung leiten und an welchen Wertmaßstäben sie sich orientiert. Dabei unterscheidet die Autorin drei "Planungskulturen" nach ihrem Maß an Dominanz des Wirtschaftlichen bzw. des Pädagogischen. Der Autorin gelingt es, auch eher verdeckte Motive des Planungshandelns an die Oberfläch…
The article discusses the chances of using a gerontological data base (Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adulthood, German Acronym: ILSE) for analyses in educational biography research: Learning to age tends to be the central category of this analyses. The article comments on the current debate of aging and education and expounds the problems of politically driven activation of elders and the programmatic turn in the discussion. In a second step the article elaborates on what terms it is …
On the mediation difficulty of social competence in adult education/further and continuing education Problems are presented which can emerge in seminars for adults when mediating social competence. Called on are for this the results of a research work of the author on the topic of advanced vocational training in societal situations of upheaval.
