"This edited volume will highlight works that examine adult learners' motivation and momentum in online education. We aim to provide examples of strategies, tools, and practices educators and educational institutions use to encourage and support adult learners' motivation and momentum across a variety of online educational programs (e.g., micro-credentials, certificates, undergraduate through doctoral programs, lifelong learning applications). This edited volume will demonstrate a variety of strategies, tools, and practices that can be adapted to support the needs of diverse adult learners across a range of educational contexts"--
Online education has created an ever-expanding number of programs. Adult online learners are diverse and have varied talents, challenges, and motivations. They choose online learning for its convenience and accessibility, but the online learning environment can be flat and two-dimensional. Adult online learners can then become disengaged and disconnected—especially if the online learning experience does not support their social-emotional needs. More research on supporting the whole learner in adult online classrooms is required. Motivation and Momentum in Adult Online Education highlights unique and varied approaches to adult learners’ motivation and momentum in online education. It provides examples of strategies, tools, and practices educators and educational institutions use to encourage and support adult learners’ motivation and momentum across a variety of online educational programs. Covering topics such as academic coaching, faculty-student interaction, and student engagement, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for higher education leaders, professors, course instructors, advisors, curriculum developers, instructional designers, lifelong learning application developers, professionals in student support services, librarians, researchers, and academicians.
How do you tailor education to the learning needs of adults? Do they learn differently from children? How does their life experience inform their learning processes? These were the questions at the heart of Malcolm Knowles’ pioneering theory of andragogy which transformed education theory in the 1970s. The resulting principles of a self-directed, experiential, problem-centred approach to learning have been hugely influential and are still the basis of the learning practices we use today. Understanding these principles is the cornerstone of increasing motivation and enabling adult learners to achieve. The 9th edition of The Adult Learner has been revised to include: Updates to the book to reflect the very latest advancements in the field. The addition of two new chapters on diversity and inclusion in adult learning, and andragogy and the online adult learner. An updated supporting website. This website for the 9th edition of The Adult Learner will provide basic instructor aids including a PowerPoint presentation for each chapter. Revisions throughout to make it more readable and relevant to your practices. If you are a researcher, practitioner, or student in education, an adult learning practitioner, training manager, or involved in human resource development, this is the definitive book in adult learning you should not be without.
Children with learning disabilities can be as sharp as their peers; however, they may find it challenging to write, read, reason out information, spell things correctly, or process information. Due to this, it is critical for students to understand the ways of learning that suit them the best. They may not be aware of the different ways they can learn or may not be able to develop a self-reliant approach to learning and will often seek help. Perspectives of Cognitive, Psychosocial, and Learning Difficulties From Childhood to Adulthood: Practical Counseling Strategies provides a guide for understanding learning difficulties and sheds light on a variety of strategies that can be implemented in the class by teachers. The book also underscores the importance of literacy and numeracy and the relationship between learning difficulties and student wellbeing. Covering key topics such as counseling, coping strategies, and interventions, this premier reference source is ideal for administrators, policymakers, researchers, scholars, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.
After ten years of online education, I had earned an MA and a Ph.D. Though incredibly grateful for this time of learning and growing, there was still something amiss once it was all finished. It wasn’t easy to figure out why I felt this way, but it finally came to me. Ultimately, I cannot point to one meaningful long-term friendship that was formed with either a peer or professor. The accessible, convenient, and affordable pathways of online educational delivery systems paved the way for me to achieve my learning goals, and for that, I am thankful. Yet, the feeling of being robbed of the human element and the benefit of gaining another’s perspective remained. Online education is here to stay. No one is arguing that fact. Even now, new technological advancements continue to emerge, offering innovative approaches to helping people to continue learning. I celebrate this and encourage it, but not at the expense of the human element. This book puts forward research-based findings that offer evidence that students, professors, and schools are far more likely to achieve their goals when solid friendships exist. A solidly Christian and Biblical perspective undergirds and supports the results of this one-and-a-half-year doctoral research project that is the basis for this book. Questions that are considered through these pages include: 1. Why do relationships matter in online education? 2. Who is responsible for creating relational connections in online education? 3. Where and when can social opportunities happen in online education? 4. Is there a Biblical precedent for learning in relational communities? 5. Are there dangers to learning in isolation? By using inspirational true stories, Biblical examples, and data gleaned from the research, arguments are made that all in online education win if genuine friendships exist and we enjoy the support of a Christian community.
Due to rapid technological advancements, evolving workplace structures, and a shift towards remote work, the nature of work is undergoing transformations influencing communication, work dynamics, and learning processes. Improving the skills of future workforces is now a necessity as the growth of work-skill misalignment and employability skills gaps becomes prevalent. Educational institutions must prepare students for the digital world by providing them with advanced knowledge and essential skills in modern technology. To positively shape the future workforce, effective solutions for skill revitalization should be explored. Revitalizing Student Skills for Workforce Preparation explores the intricacies of evolving and complex professional landscapes, including the challenges and opportunities of student skill development. The pivotal role of skill development in education is emphasized while delving into how effective skill education will shape the future workforce. This book covers topics such as digital technology, professional development, and emotional intelligence, and is a useful resource for educators, business professionals, and policymakers, academicians, researchers, and administrators.
The use of academic discourse in today’s educational environment has the potential to improve education for students from all backgrounds. To achieve this, further study on the best practices, challenges, and future opportunities is required. Cultivating Critical Discourse in the Classroom shares the benefits of empowering and engaging students at all levels of education through the use of academic discourse. The book also provides insights for educators to become more knowledgeable, and therefore better equipped, to create spaces through discourse where cultural competence is cultivated. Covering key topics such as identity, linguistics, student autonomy, and language, this premier reference source is ideal for administrators, policymakers, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.
There is a need in the current educational field to develop classroom strategies and environments that support deaf learners. It is critical for educators to understand the best practices and challenges within deaf education in order to provide these learners with a thorough education. Strategies for Promoting Independence and Literacy for Deaf Learners With Disabilities provides teachers with information and strategies to support deaf learners with disabilities. It also discusses background information on special education law and topics related to transition. Covering key topics such as social skills, technology, communication, and classroom environments, this premier reference source is ideal for policymakers, administrators, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, preservice teachers, teacher educators, and students.
A Guide to Online Course Design offers faculty and professional staff a practical and easy-to-follow model for creating exceptional online courses that focuses on quality standards in instructional design, transparency in learning outcomes, and learner persistence. A comprehensive resource, the book includes effective, research-based instructional strategies to motivate online learners and help them become more self-directed. A Guide to Online Course Design emphasizes quality standards and removing barriers to learners’ persistence, which ensures online courses meet the needs of online learners as well as distance education initiatives. “All faculty members and course designers, regardless of experience level, content background, or technology skills, can benefit from applying the approaches defined in this book. The authors have imparted a wealth of knowledge that can improve the quality of any online class and I highly recommend this book for all those involved with online learning.” - Anton G. Camarota, faculty, University of Denver “Anyone involved in developing online courses should read this book! Packed with great insights and the research to back them up, Stavredes and Herder guide readers with practical information that will support online course development.” - Brenda Boyd, director of professional development and consulting, Quality Matters Program “The blend of theory and application makes A Guide to Online Course Design and indispensable resource for any professional seeking to create high quality, outcomes-based learning experiences. I loved the action steps that close each chapter, as they lead the reader through the entire process of course design from analysis to implementation.” - Kathe Kacheroski, dean of curriculum and instruction, Rasmussen College
Challenges in the educational arena are not new phenomena. However, with the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and educators have been made even more aware of the need for a paradigm shift in education. Blended learning, as opposed to fully online learning or traditional face-to-face teaching, has been well-researched and has been found to have the potential to provide better educational solutions in challenging contexts. These contexts range from pandemic situations where social distancing is the order of the day to financial and time constraints regarding full-time study, as well as limited physical capacity at institutions. Blended learning solutions are often designed for resourceful institutions and cannot be easily implemented in developing countries and in communities where resources are limited. Typical issues like connectivity, accessibility, lack of suitable devices, and affordability need to be taken into consideration and in cognizance of blended learning interventions. These challenges are often neglected in blended learning research but are critical discussions to be had. Re-Envisioning and Restructuring Blended Learning for Underprivileged Communities shares how institutions in the developing world and less privileged communities have re-imagined and restructured blended education to enhance teaching and learning for underprivileged communities. This book aims to address blended learning solutions across institutional, program, course, and activity levels. The chapters will cover a variety of learning environments, from rural settings to less developed countries and more, and explore the programs and courses designed to improve student success and accessibility in diverse student populations. This book is ideally intended for teachers, administrators, teacher educators, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students who are interested in blended learning opportunities in less-privileged settings and to underserved and marginalized populations.
