The following report offers an insight on the theoretical and empirical issue of cultural adult education. It is understood as an institution for the refinement of the aesthetic senses which, according to Welsch, can easily become anesthetic – a situation of suspended sensitivity. A second empirical approach presents the current provisions systematized by three “Portals of Participation“. Cultural educational provisions may be attributed to the “systematic-receptive type“, the “independent-crea…
How to relate Natural Sciences to Adult Education Drawing on an intensive debate on the improvement of scientific literacy going on in Germany for more than ten years, this article deals with possible contributions of adult education. Starting with the marginal supply of science courses for adults, I focus on typical didactical arrangements and concepts. Based on an empirical study, exemplary didactical concepts are analysed regarding aims, topics, course type, and audience. The results are…
The didactical gap in the “didactical self choice” In adult education didactics are closely conglomerated with learn theoretical concepts without clearly naming its own questions in content. This becomes especially obvious in the newly research on e-learning. After the failure of the technically possible, the call for didactics has become loud. When one regards the pertinent publications, one finds remarkably many which take their didactical foundation from the learn theory and therewith ha…
The latest number of the Berichtssystem Weiterbildung (»Further Education Report System«) of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research marks a trend reversal: whereas in the last periods under review an increase in the attendance of further education courses was to be observed, currently attendance is regressive by five percent points – particularly in general further education. The author presumes that one reason for this is education’s focussing on the labour market perspective, an atti…
10% of German adults are estimated 1995 by OECD to be on a very low level of literacy, about 30% are on a low level. The author explores definitions and dimension of basic education. Restrictions exist for discussion in the lack of University research and the fact that illiterates form a part of the population described to be on a low level of literacy. But basic education is the prerequisite for independent, self-organized learning and the basis of general education. Therefore concepts to inte…
In today’s societies literacy is regarded as the prerequisite for participating in the professional and private spheres of everyday life. It is regarded as a human right, a tool for personal empowerment and a tool to influence the behaviour of individuals, families and communities. Despite the international consensus that literacy skills determine opportunities and provide access to today’s information-based societies, many adults in both industrialized and developing countries find themselves …
Lerntheorien sind eine wichtige Grundlage für alle, die sich professionell mit Lehren auseinandersetzen. In jüngerer Vergangenheit entstanden viele Theorien, die über den Behaviorismus und Kognitivismus hinausweisen und Lernen als menschliche Aktivität in einem sozialen Zusammenhang begreifen. Dadurch eröffnen sich lerntheoretische Bezüge zu Interessen, Gemeinschaften, Gefühlen, Arbeitsplätzen u.a. Auch wird die Vorstellung überwunden, Lernen sei primär für Kinder und Jugendliche bedeutsam. So …
Most learning activities in continuing education are assigned to enterprise-provided continuing vocational training. There is wide-spread interest in this field and its development. But many researchers point out that the theoretical and conceptual foundations for researching and shaping this field are not adequately unfolded. The variety of enterprise-provided continuing vocational training requires approaches, which allow for differentiation between diverse realities and interests of actors. …
The studie „Cultures of Teaching“ focusses on the question, to what extend teaching beliefs are anchored in the pedagigal practice of Adult Education. Particullary the relation between teaching beliefs and organizational contexts is analysed. These questions are answerd by the means of a qualitative research design in which nine organisations of adult education were integrated. Therefore, all members of each organisations (mananagment, pedagogical and administrative staff) took part at intervie…