This article presents a general and overarching view on partnerships between adult education and STEM disciplines. Drawing from their individual STEM backgrounds, personal perspectives and experiences with such partnerships, and the science of team science, the authors consider the benefits of adult education for STEM, the benefits of STEM for…

In "Digital Immigrants: Leveraging the Technology Acceptance Model to Increase Digital Literacy in Older Adults," the authors delve into the vital importance of digital literacy for supporting older adults in living independently and staying connected with their community. They explore how the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which…

Despite intense interest in how social capital can facilitate informal learning, few attempts have been made to synthesize the interface between social capital and informal learning. Social capital is an important factor in the application of informal learning, especially in postsecondary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)…

Mathematical dispositions, or an individual's behavioral (i.e., things they say and do), cognitive (i.e., attention and memory), and affective (i.e., emotions and beliefs) tendencies related to mathematics, are critical to the learning of mathematics and choices related to STEM. Previous research has suggested that adult learners may possess…

This article explores the design and development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on inclusive teaching. Released in the Fall of 2023, the MOOC is particularly unique because of its intentional use of ethnically diverse voices and multimodal content to include art, music, spoken word, and storytelling. Modules range from Self and Empathy to…

Rural agriculture retailers, or those engaged in the production of food, fiber, and fuel, are pressed to find just-in-time solutions for continual learning with their adult employees, specifically millennials, the generation who will assume future leadership roles. Adult educators in rural settings, or lower populated areas, are encountering rapid…

Artificial intelligence (AI) influences many aspects of modern life and has multiple applications in the delivery of healthcare. AI is designed to mimic human capabilities including pattern recognition, data analysis, and decision-making and perform tasks more efficiently. It is capable of detecting patterns in large datasets that might elude…

In this article, we define and provide some history of "critical media literacy" (CML) in education. We then place critical media literacy in context of our current "post-truth" era. Next, we describe some of the consequences of adults' addiction to two decades of expanding, omnipresent new media to explain why we, like…

This article takes an international perspective on adult learning and disinformation, exploring how they have recast the global landscape. In particular, we address former president Trump's naming of certain Caribbean and African nations as "shithole countries," as well as other related experiences, and work to locate these comments…

In this article, we trace the throughline of conspiracy thinking from QAnon to Pastel Q to conspirituality (a term that combines "conspiracy" + "spirituality"). We also explore how many in the wellness community have monetized conspirituality, using conspiracy theories about health, vaccines, COVID-19, and more to connect with…

Digital literacy is a crucial skill set within the social, political, and economic contexts of 21st-century society. Around the world, governments are making a concerted effort to develop digital literacy within adults, as indicated through Sustainable Development Goal 4. However, working learners from a variety of backgrounds and geographies…

This chapter highlights several of the significant design and facilitation considerations used to support adult working learners pursuing online learning across educational contexts. These include the integration of inclusive online learning practices, the design and facilitation of quality interactions in the online environment, and application…

In this qualitative study, through a "testimonio" methodology, we examined the working-learner re-entry experiences of eight Latinx students enrolled at a community college. In particular, we studied how their multiple identities influenced their educational journey as they attempted to complete their college degrees. Our findings show…

This paper explores the impact of technological advances and digital transformations, with a particular focus on the "future of work" and its implications for lifelong learning and adult working learners. We emphasize the pressing need for human-centric solutions to address complex human challenges that technology alone cannot resolve,…

An increasing percentage of students entering postsecondary institutions are working at least part-time and balancing multiple identities, responsibilities, and demands on their time and resources. As student demographics change, postsecondary institutions must rise to meet these students where they are. Two effective ways to do that include…