Adult Education Organizations and Programs - Update

Mariatu Swayne and Kyndra Haggard worked on the Introduction and Main Programs for the organizations. Ray Harmon and Daniel Simons worked on the Comparisons and Implications for the organizations. The group together decided which organizations we would research. 

Kyndra Haggard - Commented of Group 5 & 6
Mariatu Swayne - Commented on Groups 1, 3, 4, 5, & 6
Ray Harmon - Commented on Group 2 & 5

Adult Education Organizations and Programs

American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) and

The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA)

Group 2

Kyndra Haggard, Ray Harmon, Daniel Simons, and Mariatu Swayne

Ball State University

EDAC 631

April 3, 2015

American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE)

The American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) was founded in 1982.  According to Schmidt (2013), AAACE members practice in a variety of different fields in many countries around the world, they share the common belief that lifelong learning contributes to human fulfillment and positive social change. They envision a more humane world made possible by the diverse practice of our members in helping adults acquire the knowledge, skills and values needed to lead productive and satisfying lives. 

The mission of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) is to provide leadership for the field of adult and continuing education by expanding opportunities for adult growth and development; unifying adult educators; fostering the development and dissemination of theory, research, information, and best practices; promoting identity and standards for the profession; and advocating relevant public policy and social change initiatives.

According to the AAACE (n.d), the organization was founded as the result of a merger between the National Association for Public and Continuing Adult Education (NAPCAE) and the Adult Education Association (AEA).   The AAACE is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing "leadership for the field of adult and continuing education by expanding opportunities for adult growth and development; unifying adult educators; fostering the development and dissemination of theory, research, information, and best practices; promoting identity and standards for the profession; and advocating relevant public policy and social change initiatives."

Main Programs within the AAACE

According to Schmidt (2013), there are two types of subgroups that are found in AAACE. They are commissions and special interest groups (SIGs).  Commissions are formal subgroups that are led by a director. There are seven different commissions within AAACE, and members may join up to two commissions. Commissions, along with the mission of each, are noted below. They are as follows:

·         Adult Basic Education and Literacy (CABEL). The mission of the Commission for Adult

Basic Education and Literacy is to facilitate the research, discussion and implementation of

policies, and to provide the development of professionals in the areas of adult basic education

and literacy.

·         Affiliated Organizations (CAO). The CAO coordinates relationships with state or regional

adult and continuing education associations and other organizations that are affiliate members

with AAACE.

·         Community, Minority, and Non-formal Education (CCMNFE). CCMNFE is dedicated to the

belief that minority and non-formal life-long learners contribute to professional development

and human fulfillment within communities as promoter of productive social change, and advocates of relevant public policy and programs.

·         International Adult Education (CIAE). CIAE provides a forum for the discussion of international

issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries

around the globe.

·         Professors of Adult Education (CPAE). The mission of CPAE is to:

-Act as a vehicle for strengthening and supporting excellence in academic programs in

adult education.

-Identify and disseminate resources that support adult education as a field of study, research,

and practice.

-Provide opportunities for the professional development of professors of adult education.

- Study and disseminate positions on social issues of concern to adult education.

- Provide a forum for critical reflection and dialogue on scholarship and practice that reflects

the diversity in adult education.

-Provide a caring, supportive and collegial community for professors of adult education.

·         Program Management (CPM). CPM provides information and developmental training for

adult and continuing education program managers.

·         Workforce and Professional Development (CWPD). CWPD strives to increase competencies,

knowledge, career opportunities, and development in workforce and continuing professional

education. They achieve these goals through supporting professionals, educators, and

educational institutions whose outreach efforts meet the needs of adult learners in organizational settings.

American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE)

The American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) was founded in 1982.  According to the AAACE (n.d), the mission of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) is to provide leadership for the field of adult and continuing education by expanding opportunities for adult growth and development; unifying adult educators; fostering the development and dissemination of theory, research, information, and best practices; promoting identity and standards for the profession; and advocating relevant public policy and social change initiatives.

According to Rose (2008), prior to the formulation of the AAACE, many organizations were founded under the auspice of providing support to the adult education community including the Department of Immigration Education, the American Association for Adult Education (AAAE), the Adult Education Association of the USA (AEA), the National Association for Public School Adult Educators (NAPSAE), and the National Association for Public and Continuing Adult Educators (NAPCAE).  Many of the organizations founded were benefiting certain populations of the adult education community.  As adult organizations disbanded, some managed to merge and in 1982 the AAACE was founded.  According to the AAACE (n.d), the organization was founded as the result of a merger between the National Association for Public and Continuing Adult Education (NAPCAE) and the Adult Education Association (AEA). Even after its founding in 1982, the AAACE has struggled to survive amongst competition from a variety of other Adult Education organizations.

According to Schmidt (2013), the AAACE is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing "leadership for the field of adult and continuing education by expanding opportunities for adult growth and development; unifying adult educators; fostering the development and dissemination of theory, research, information, and best practices; promoting identity and standards for the profession; and advocating relevant public policy and social change initiatives.”

According to the AAACE (n.d.), the AAACE is led by a board of directors that includes elected officers and a board of commission directors.  Day to day operations of the organization are led by the Association Manager (AAACE Bylaws).

Main Programs within the AAACE

The AAACE has published the journal, Adult Learning since 1989.  According to Adult Learning (n.d), the journal publishes empirical research and conceptual papers for researchers and practitioners that approach practice issues with a problem-solving emphasis.    The journal also includes personal reflections, visions for the future, and special issues.  The audience includes those who design, manage, teach, and evaluate programs of adult and continuing education.  The journal is led by an editorial board. 

According to Adult Learning (n.d), the editorial procedure for refereed manuscripts includes review by two or three editorial board members. Reviewers make one of the following recommendations: accept, conditional accept (upon revisions), revise and resubmit, and reject. Authors generally receive a decision within two to three months of manuscript submission. Authors of articles receiving a revise recommendation may receive comments on and suggestions for enhanced organization, readability, and substantive content changes.

The AAACE provides an annual conference for its members.  Each year the conference selects a theme taken right out of the mission of the organization.  Themes over the last three years include:  2013, "Building Sustainable Futures through Learning and Partnerships,” 2014, "Adult Educators: Making a Difference!”, and 2015, "Evolutions and Revolutions in Adult Learning!”  The conference provides speakers, exhibits, breakout sessions, roundtable discussions, voting, and board of directors meetings.  A call for proposals, exhibit and sponsor requests takes place every year and is put together by the Association Manager (AAACE Bylaws).

The Worker’s Education Association (WEA)

The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) was founded in 1903 by Albert Mansbridge in Britain (WEAadulted in 2014). It is located in the United Kingdom and Scotland. The WEA is a charity and is the United Kingdom’s largest voluntary sector of adult education (Education for Everyone, 2015).

The Vision for the WEA is “A better world - equal, democratic and just; through adult education the WEA challenges and inspires individuals, communities and society” (Education for Everyone, 2015).

Their Mission states the following points:

·         Raising educational aspirations

·         Bringing great teaching and learning to local communities

·         Ensuring there is always an opportunity for adults to return to learning

·         Developing educational opportunities for the most disadvantaged

·         Involving students and supporters as members to build an education movement for social purpose

·         Inspiring students, teachers and members to become active citizens

The Values that the WEA practice by are:

·         Democratic

·         Equal

·         Inclusive

·         Accessible

·         Open

The WEA works through a very solid approach to streamlining their mission and vision. They form partnerships in order to reach their individual and team needs. They practice a ‘student centered approach” where the students and teachers are on equal ground. They are consistently adapting to meet the needs of the learners.

The student center approach shifts the focus of activity from the teacher to the learners. The method includes active learning and cooperative learning (Felder).

The WEA website states that for 2013/2014 they delivered 9,700 part-time course for over 7,000 students. They have 9 locations in the United Kingdom and one in Scotland.

Main Programs within the WEA

The programs that WEA offers are:

·         Computer Sills

·         Health and Wellbeing

·         Humanities, Languages, Literature and Social Studies

·         Math, English and Functional Skills

·         Professional and Volunteer Training

·         Schools and Child Development

·         Science and Environmental Studies

·         Trade Union Learning

·         Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Media

The WEA is ran by directors, staff, volunteers and tutors. The volunteers help run the main courses. Not every course is offered at each location. The WEA operates with a “strong sense of social purpose dedicated to bringing great teaching into the heart of the community” (wea.org/uk, 2015). The WEA was first formed to assist the working class, inmates, women and single parents. Over time, and with assistance, the charity transformed and began extending education to include more skill sets (WEAadulted in 2014).

The goal for these programs as a result is to “develop employability education develops confidence, understanding and skills to help adults, at all stages of their lives, participate more fully in the world of work” (Education for Everyone, 2015).

Albert Mansbridge became part of the co-operative movement and saw that the University Extension programs were failing to attract the working people. Mansbridge felt that all people should have the opportunity to have an education. With the help of this wife, Mansbidge started the Workers’ Education Association (WEAadulted in 2014). Over time he joined partnerships with other organizations and universities to grow the WEA.

Comparison

When comparing the Workers’ Education Association (WEA) and the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) both organizations promote adult education. Both are not in business to make money, as the AACE is non-profit and the WEA is run by volunteers. Both believe the world is a more positive place when adults are able to continue learning. Both are interested in promoting learning to minorities and people who are disadvantaged. How they accomplish these goals is where they differ in their approach. The AAACE promotes the idea that if the teachers and leaders within their organization are better prepared to help adult learners, the result is students will be able to accomplish more. On the other hand the WEA uses the “student centered approach” and sees the student and the teacher as equals in reaching the goal of learning. The student becomes more responsible for their own learning than does the teacher. The WEA wants to reach out to all students no matter which phase of life they are in. This allows them to make a positive impact on people no matter what circumstances they are in.

Implications

While the path to accomplish their goals may differ, both of these organizations have a single focused goal; to help adult learners succeed. Whether the path is to reach out to adult learners where ever they are in their life,  as the WEA does, or the path is to provide guidance and standards for those involved in teaching adult learners, as the AAACE does, the goal is the same; to promote adult learning to make the world a better place. Both organizations see access to adult education as something everyone should have. The goals of both provide great examples of how working to better the lives of individuals around the world make the world a better place. Both also foster learning in adults no matter the age, background, race or any other factor that may have, in the past, been a road block. In doing so these groups can bring about positive social change. The WEA says, “Education is a beautiful and powerful tool for tackling economic and social disadvantage because it raises aspirations and helps people create their own change” (WEA).

Comparison (added info)

The AACE and WEA are organized differently because they have different purposes. The AAACE provides a platform for adult educators to come together because they have a common goal. It provides a place to discuss issues and trends in the field of adult education. The WEA however, is designed to educate adult learners. Their goal is to provide adult learners with the necessary tools of knowledge they need to take the next steps in their life. The WEA’s staff could utilize the AAACE to bring in new ideas or share experiences with other similar organizations.

Implications

AAACE

At the 2008 AAACE national conference, the then president, Amy Rose, spoke about the past, present and future of the organization. She summarized this in her article, AAACE: Where are we going and where have we been? The Future of AAACE in light of its Past.  The AAACE went through a rough patch when they split from the Commission for Adult Basic Education (COABE) in 2000 (Rose, 2008). Membership drop, volunteers and staff diminished. The AAACE did not give up. Instead they decided to again look the role the association played in accordance to adult education. The worked on strategies to move it in the right direction. Rose states that, “part of the effort of redefinition has involved an ongoing focus on strategic planning.” The have begun to participate in the “broader” issues facing adult education. The AACE worked to outline the core areas that graduate students should understand.  The AAACE has also dealt with the ever changing definition of adult education.

What can we learn from all of this? The organization did not shut down when they started to fall. They instead looked at the big picture of why they existed in the first place. The AACE spent years picking themselves up and turning the organization back around to continue serving and being an umbrella organization to many adult education organizations.  Their mission is to provide leadership and that they are. They are accepting the changes and moving forward to continue to work with changes and not against them.

The AAACE provides great opportunities. They offer publications that compile research and current events/issues in the field. This is just like any other new source to gain and gather information to keep yourself current on what is happening and changing. The AAACE also holds and annual conferences. The conference always have different themes centered on what different groups and concerns are in the field currently. This provides a place for everyone to come together and discuss these topics. This is a great way for adult education to grow. This is not a field that can remain stagnate. There is constant change.

WEA

            There is a lot we can learn from the WEA in regards to how they operate. They care about equality, they work locally, have partnered with many organizations in order to offer more, and have a very concise vision on what to expect from them. They seem to be a very transparent company which is what helps keep learners reaching out to them. The organization truly cares. They are a charity. The WEA stick to their mission and vision. For the continual growth of their organization and the adult education field this is very important. From other readings, we can see that there is much debate on the importance of adult education. Organizations like the WEA are what is keeping the strategic alliance of this field strong.

            The WEA offers to main program groups which is what gives them such a wide array of interest. They offer they core subjects as well as special interest groups (WEA, 2015). The organization offers courses that are what learners need to take the next steps in their life. They have created a good focus.  The WEA does a wonderful job at keeping classes available to accommodate most schedules. They hold day, evening, and weekend classes. This is what makes this program so appealing. Someone wanting to take courses can make it fit into their schedule. 

           

	Workers’ Educational Association (WEA)	American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE)
Locations	United Kingdom (9), Scotland (1)	National Headquarters in Bowie, Maryland
Year Founded	1903	1982
Missions & Goals	·         Raising educational aspirations ·         Bringing great teaching and learning to local communities ·         Ensuring there is always an opportunity for adults to return to learning ·         Developing educational opportunities for the most disadvantaged ·         Involving students and supporters as members to build an education movement for social purpose ·         Inspiring students, teachers and members to become active citizens	The mission of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) is to provide leadership for the field of adult and continuing education by expanding opportunities for adult growth and development; unifying adult educators; fostering the development and dissemination of theory, research, information, and best practices; promoting identity and standards for the profession; and advocating relevant public policy and social change initiatives.
Main Programs	·         Computer Sills ·         Health and Wellbeing ·         Humanities, Languages, Literature and Social Studies ·         Math, English and Functional Skills ·         Professional and Volunteer Training ·         Schools and Child Development ·         Science and Environmental Studies ·         Trade Union Learning ·         Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Media	·         Adult Learning Journal ·         Annual AAACE Conference
How were programs organized	·         Albert Mansbridge with the help of his wife. ·         He gained his knowledge by being part of the co-operative movement ·         He believed everyone should have an education ·         A History of the WEA	·         A merger between two existing associations; the National Association for Public and Continuing Adult Education (NAPCAE) and the Adult Education Association (AEA) ·         In 1982, at a conference in San Antonio, the two organizations joined forces to become AAACE
Goals wish to be achieved through programs	·         “Develop employability education develops confidence, understanding and skills to help adults, at all stages of their lives, participate more fully in the world of work” ·         Education for everyone	·         Continual support of the ongoing growth and expansion of leadership roles in the field. ·         Continual support of lifelong learning
Why organized Similarly?	·         Promote Adult Education ·         Not in the business to make money ·         Believe world is more positive place when adults are able to continue learning ·         Promoting learning to minorities and people who are disadvantaged ·         Promote learning for life
Why organized differently?	·         Charity to educate those in need ·         Offer course to get adult learners to the next stage in their life/career	·         Organized to bring together different aspects of adult and continuing education ·         To give continual output of current events through journals.
	·         The organizations were built with two different visions. ·         The WEA to teach others ·         The AACE to bring together those teachers and organizations to learn and explore the trends and future of the adult education field.
Implications	·         Reach students no matter where they are in their life. ·         “Friendly, accessible, education on your doorstep.” ·         Believes  “Education is a beautiful and powerful tool for tackling economic and social disadvantage because it raises aspirations and helps people create their own change” ·         Gaining partnerships to reach more adult learners ·         Strong values on equality	·         Restricting after a down fall to keep the main purpose and goal of the organization in mind. ·         Continually providing strong aspects such as the annual conferences and publications on adult learning.

Sources

AAACE Bylaws. (2015, April 2).  Retrieved from http://www.aaace.org/by-laws

"Adult Learning." SAGE. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2015.

A brief overview and history of AAACE. (2015, March 18). Retrieved from  

http://www.aaace.org/who-we-are

Education for Everyone. (2015, January 1). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from

http://www.wea.org.uk/

Fedler, D. (2015, January 18). Student-Centered Teaching and Learning. Retrieved March 18,

2015, from http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Student-Centered.html

Rose, A. (2008). AAACE: Where are we going and where have we been? The futre of AACE in

light of its Past. Adult Leaning, 34-36. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://alx.sagepub.com/

Schmidt, S.W. (2013).  Perspectives in adult education—the American association for adult and

continuing education (AAACE):  its history, purpose, and activities.  New Horizons in Adult Education & Human Resource Development, 26 (1), 55-59.

WEAadulted, (WEA). (2013, June, 13). A History of The Worker’s Education Association.                      

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNLd3T5caas

WEA in 2014. 1st ed. London: WEAadulted, 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.