In the wake of the world's fast-growing ageing populations and the increasing recognition of the benefits of later life learning towards successful ageing, opportunities for elders and senior persons to engage in learning have proliferated, resulting in an array of programmes and activities being planned and organized by governments,…

This paper analyzes the importance and role of the reciprocity relationship in education. It presents a review on the mobilization of the principle of reciprocity--in the anthropological but also sociological and economic senses--in educational processes, especially in adult education. The study is divided into three parts. The first part analyzes…

The aim of this paper is to explore the historical representations of adulthood, citizenship and the ideal social bonds of an individual and the society in the transforming moral orders of Finnish adult education. The research is based on a thematic reading of data, which consist of texts written during the past 150 years by theorists of adult…

In times of global influence, compulsory education in the Nordic countries has promoted democracy as choice since the 1990s, as enhancing an individual good. Supporting education for democracy is a matter that concerns the world and society on the topic of "what shall he do? Shall he act for this or that end?". This indicates that…

The concept of lifelong learning implies a cycle where the learner contributes prior learning into a new learning environment and sees that learning upgraded. In recent years, a range of internal and external pressures have encouraged Australian universities to identify the meta or generic skills embedded in tertiary study. Using a content…

Experiential learning has explicitly, since the publication of the Kolb "treatise" been a cornerstone of youth work practice in the UK. It is the contention of this paper that there is a significant misinterpretation of Kolb's theory by those who have applied his theory to youth work. Not least that experience is framed as: "concrete experience"…

In the last decade, the "Reflect" approach--an alternative to the "great divide" theory of literacy--has gained wider currency in developing countries because of its ability to deal with social, cultural and political issues by placing the identification and solution of local problems in the hands of local people. In Ghana, ActionAid International…

This paper was provoked by Ted Bailey's article, 'Analogy, dialectics and lifelong learning' which appeared in the March-April 2003 edition of this journal. Dr. Bailey argued that students can be enabled to learn the key concepts of the subjects they are studying through the dialectical operation of analogy which makes new knowledge accessible by…

Political listening is an essential practice of democratic citizenship in world of inequality and cultural conflict. Critical adult educators should foster an infrastructure for respectful communication toward the goal of building a civil and tolerable society. (Contains 21 references.) (SK)

Examines the idea of civil society, comparing the Marxist and post-Marxist definitions of it. Discusses the political agendas of socialism and radical democracy and their impact on adult education. (Contains 59 references.) (SK)

Attempts to explore the epistemological dimensions of postmodernism. Develops a less problematic post-postmodern perspective, influenced by Wittgenstein. Notes how this perspective is consistent with theory and practice in adult and continuing education. (SK)

Notes that throughout this century, adult education planning theory has been dominated by technical rationality, which has limited adult education activity to certain areas. Discusses how relational analysis provides alternative examples of what could constitute legitimate planning theory and practice. (SK)

Applying "Third World" theories to "First World" contexts is risky. Four problematic tendencies in using the work of Paulo Freire are failure to consider its social context, fragmentation of his texts, reductionism in using his principles and practices, and reluctance to assess his ideas critically. (SK)

The author states that a proactive stance by adult education would stem from recognizing that adults are motivated by heterostasis; the individual learner-centered approach to adult education has to be supplemented by attempts to satisfy societal and planetary needs; and innovative learning is a viable response to the multiplicity of futures. (CT)

Introduces adult educators to the major research directions and institutions in Eastern Europe. Indicates the need for increased contacts, joint research projects, and debates between researchers in Eastern Europe and those in other parts of the world. (JOW)