Participation in Adult Participation in Adult EducationEducation

Stacia T SandersStacia T Sanders

Kevin T SmithKevin T Smith

Key PointsKey Points

““Historically, participation in adult Historically, participation in adult educations is largely a voluntary educations is largely a voluntary activity.”activity.”

“…“…without volunteer learners, there without volunteer learners, there would be a much smaller enterprise would be a much smaller enterprise of adult education.”of adult education.”

Key PointsKey Points

Therefore, providers of adult education need to Therefore, providers of adult education need to know “who is participating, why they are know “who is participating, why they are participating, and what conditions are likely to participating, and what conditions are likely to promote greater participation.”promote greater participation.”

““Knowledge about participants is useful to policy Knowledge about participants is useful to policy makers in terms of funding and to those who plan makers in terms of funding and to those who plan and implement programs.”and implement programs.”

““For those who plan learning activities and For those who plan learning activities and instruct adults, it is certainly helpful to know as instruct adults, it is certainly helpful to know as much as possible about the clientele being much as possible about the clientele being served.”served.”

Who Participates?Who Participates?

First National Study (Johnston & Rivera First National Study (Johnston & Rivera 1965)1965)

Adult – 21 or Older, married, or the head Adult – 21 or Older, married, or the head of householdof household

Adult Education Activity – have as its main Adult Education Activity – have as its main purpose the desire to acquire some type of purpose the desire to acquire some type of knowledge, information, or skill and that it knowledge, information, or skill and that it would include some form of instruction. would include some form of instruction.

Who Participates?Who Participates?

Demographics Demographics Man or WomanMan or Woman Typically under 40Typically under 40 High School graduate or moreHigh School graduate or more Above-average incomeAbove-average income Works full-timeWorks full-time Married w/childrenMarried w/children Lives in urbanized areas all over the USLives in urbanized areas all over the US

Profile of Adult LearnerProfile of Adult Learner

Better educated, younger, higher Better educated, younger, higher income, most likely white and income, most likely white and employed full-timeemployed full-time

Why Adults Do or Do Not Why Adults Do or Do Not ParticipateParticipate

Based on Numerous Survey StudiesBased on Numerous Survey Studies

Boshier’s Education Participation Scale Boshier’s Education Participation Scale (EPS)(EPS) Social RelationshipsSocial Relationships External Expectations External Expectations Social WelfareSocial Welfare Professional AdvancementProfessional Advancement Escape/StimulationEscape/Stimulation Cognitive InterestCognitive Interest

Barriers to ParticipationBarriers to Participation

Biggest mystery is why more adults, Biggest mystery is why more adults, especially those who might benefit especially those who might benefit the most, are not involved in adult the most, are not involved in adult educationeducation

Two most cited reasons:Two most cited reasons: TimeTime MoneyMoney

Barriers to ParticipationBarriers to Participation

Lack of ConfidenceLack of Confidence Lack of Course RelevanceLack of Course Relevance Time ConstraintsTime Constraints Low Personal PriorityLow Personal Priority CostCost Personal ProblemsPersonal Problems

Psychosocial Interaction ModelPsychosocial Interaction Model

SummarySummary

“…“…the profile of the typical adult learner the profile of the typical adult learner remains remarkable consistent: white, remains remarkable consistent: white, middle class, employed, younger, and middle class, employed, younger, and better educated than the better educated than the nonparticipant. Further, employment-nonparticipant. Further, employment-related reasons account for the related reasons account for the majority of participant interest in majority of participant interest in continuing education.” continuing education.”