Recent empirical data show that 7.5 million adults in Germany do not reach a minimum level of reading and writing skills and, therefore, are classified as functional illiterates. However, the social and educational background of this part of the population differs considerably from wide-spread perceptions of the target group as it is represented in courses for illiterates in adult education. While the latter normally showed heavy learning problems at school, the wider group normally passed scho…
Erik Haberzeth issues a plea to make teaching the central focus of didactic activity once again. The problem with achieving successful good teaching, in his view, is not necessarily related to teachers devoting too little attention to existing specialised didactical knowledge. It is more important, rather, to make sure that didactics do not become self-absorbed and thereby impede the way to content rather than paving it. This does not mean that specialised didactics can generally speaking be di…
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…
As part of a joint project a learning game is currently being developed for adults who are functionally illiterate. Following a generally positive experience with the role of the new media in teaching work with this target group, the partners in the project, including the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE), are now focussing specifically on game-based training. This article introduces the reader to the basic concept of the game and identifies the factors in its use which are critical to…
Changing the focus on Natural Sciences At present, public debates postulate more attention to natural sciences in the education sector. First, we will examine the precarious status of natural sciences in adult education and than argue that the traditional focus on natural sciences need to be readjusted. This change of focus aims at a general understanding of scientific developments by which both the individual and the society as a whole will gain and maintain its capacity to judge and act on…
Development of culinary competencies. »Food Literacy« as a horizontal task for adult education Nourishment relevant theoretical knowledge and practical skills in preparing dishes are more and more decreasing. At the same time the requirements towards the personal feeding competence are increasing: the variety of offers continuously demands decisions and a time budget for nourishment from the consumer – these become smaller in competition to work times and media using times. The contribution i…
The contribution discusses dimensions of the internationalisation of educational marketing. Seen from a German perspective the authors are therewith treading on new land. Thereby they differ between (1) educational marketing in international comparison (using the example of comparison of the English and German situation) and (2) international educational marketing, so the development of communication- and dissemination structures of regional or national offers for an international market. For 1…
In the present contribution the final report of the Expert Commission on Financing Lifelong Learning is compared to a firework: it has provoked a short-term enthusiasm and attention. What is there to do in order not to let the ideas deflagrate but conserve chances for their implementation? The author asks the actors of further education to help oneself offensively with the arguments of the report (“public interest“, “more investments necessary“, “increase sovereignty demand“) and to advertise t…
The German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) works as a provider of scientific ser vices for both research and practical work in adult and fur ther education, supplying institutions and researchers with statistical data, documents and support. Its strategic position at the interface between theory and practice corresponds with the institutes specific understanding of its own supportive function and distinctive corporate identity: transmitting scientific knowledge to practice and vice versa, p…
Das DIALOG-Praxisnetzwerk für Wissenstransfer und Innovation des Deutschen Instituts für Erwachsenenbildung (DIE) fördert den Austausch zwischen Forschung und Praxis im Feld der Erwachsenenbildung. Das Jahresthema 2023 des Netzwerks, das aus 34 Mitgliedsorganisationen aus allen Bereichen der Erwachsenen- und Weiterbildung besteht, war die Rolle der Weiterbildung im Kampf gegen den Fachkräftemangel. Auf dem 7. DIALOG-Netzwerktreffen am 8. September 2023 fand eine Podiumsdiskussion zum Thema stat…
