MONTHLY SUMMARY- September 2014

Name: Frances Robinson    

 Group 1 (The Highlander Effect): Investigate two Adult Educators

At the end of this September, a blog was set up for Group 1. The name of the group is Highlander Effect. Group 1 has made some progress in preparing to complete the first Group project. As for myself, I had no idea how to blog and the group assisted me on how to blog and directed me on how to publish my assignments on the blog. We have contacted each other by email and have come up with a plan. Some group members have communicated by phone. As a group, we have decided to have each group share in a task of the project. The following will take place:

·         One group member will research an adult educator. They will research information in a timely manner in order for the Summary to be prepared to review by the group.

·         Second group member will research another adult educator. They will research information in a timely manner in order for the Summary to be prepared to review by the group.

·         Third group member will prepare the comparison summary of the two adult educator’s. The summary will be prepared in a timely manner for the rest of the group to review.

·         The fourth group member will write the project and also prepare in a timely manner for the group to review and then submit assignments on blackboard and group blog.

Group 1 has posted on blog individual assignment on History of Adult/Community Education on blog. Each member of the group did a different decade about adult/community education. We also have made comments to our on individual group and other groups.

History of Adult/Community Education

I have learned adult/community education will change. This is due economic, social problems, and community issues during those decades. A few examples are:

·         In 1911, Ms. Cora Wilson Stewart started the Moonlight Schools in Rowan County, Kentucky. She address the pervasive problem of illiteracy among poor rural adults.  The term Moonlight refers to the fact that all of the classes were held at night so that adults could attend.  A few years earlier, Ms. Stewart had become the first woman superintendent of schools.  “Since Cora had contact with all of the teachers in Rowan county, she became keenly aware that there were mothers who could not write to children – grown and living in other states, mothers who could not read the letters they received, and who walked miles to bring these letters to Miss Cora to open and answer for them.

·         In the 1950’s, there were people were becoming educated that more people started to realize that there was an injustice still going on within its’ own country. Supreme court ruled that separate educational facilities for black children was unequal which led whites unrolling their children of schools where black children attend. There was violence and soon Civil Rights movements to make some change in the adult education. Also, the G.I. Bill gave the opportunity for veterans to go to college or other secondary level education in order to help to provide the brave men with opportunities that had always been reserved for the higher economic status individuals.  This increased enrollment at many colleges and universities.

 As for Philosophical Perspectives, there are many different philosophers in adult education. The one that I find most interesting Malcolm Knowles who founded on Andragogy teaching method. Malcolm Knowles defines andragogy as a “is a theory based on the psychological definition of adult, which states that people become adults psychologically when they arrive at a self-concept of being responsible for their own lives, of being self-directing.” There is six assumptions that underline andragogy.

1)    Self- concept consist of the adult learner becoming more self- directed and independent. .

2)    Experience is when an adult learners comes with a wealth of life experiences to share in the learning of a particular subject.

3)    Readiness to learn which depends on the adult learners need.

4)    Problem centered focus which the adult learner seeks opportunities to learn to problem solve.

5)    Internal motivation is when the adult learner pursue opportunities to due external. 

The Highlander Education Center was interesting. To learn that Myles Horton had created the center because he felt a dissatisfaction in the education system. He felt what better way to learn is to learn about your own culture than you can make a difference in the world. His school help people find a voice in the world. Also, it was nice to know that "We shall overcome” was created out of that school and was used in civil rights movement and many other movement. Rosa Parks attended the school before she was arrested for refusing to go to the back of the bus to sit.

 I found it interesting to know the many organizations that provide adult education such as Urban League. Also, the fact that museums, libraries, and parks, are considered adult education known as cultural institutions. They were developed to preserve the history that has passed on to future generations. The cultural institution is repository that focuses on collecting documents, animals, plants, natural or historical landmarks, and unique objects that serve as educational activities.

Finally, adult education comes from a vast amount of philosophers, community organizations, colleges, universities, and etc. It is a relationship between an educational agent and a learner in which the agent selects, arranges, and continuously as those  preparing to enter the profession and  is defined as activities intentionally designed for the purpose of bringing about learning among those who age, social roles, or self-perception define them as adults.