Introductions - Kailee
Amelia Markus (pseudonym) is an Assistant Director of Community Engaged Learning at a University in Iowa. She primarily works with undergraduate students to educate them on meaningful community engagement and help them get connected to the local community. She runs a scholarship program, supervises eight student employees, and oversees co-curricular service at the University.
Kay Maher is a Workforce Employment Specialist for Des Moines Area Community College’s Workforce Training Academy (WTA). According to their website, WTA is a “tuition assistance program for short-term certificates in high-growth/high-demand industries” (Maher, 2023). They have thirteen certificate programs, such as dog grooming, Certified Nursing Assistant, and Commercial Driving License programs. They work with students from all phases of life.
Main Themes - Kailee
Joy of Lifelong Learning: “The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a volunteer-supported program of the University is open to anyone seeking opportunities for lifelong learning - providing intellectual, social and cultural stimulation and growth.” - Amelia Markus
Professional Development: “The university puts on classes for faculty and staff, which could be anything from things more related to their jobs like how to handle student issues, to things more outside of the job like mindfulness and introduction to juggling.” - Amelia Markus
Lack of Funding: “I would imagine funding would be a challenge.” - Amelia Markus
Non-Traditional Students: “We have students from all phases of life - master’s level students looking for a career change, students who are English language learners, and those who are coming back to the community from prison.” - Kay Maher
Conclusions and Discussions - Kailee
Amelia’s University has an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). OLLIs are “non-credit courses and activities specifically developed for seasoned adults aged 50 or older who are interested in learning for the joy of learning” (The Programs). The OLLI program at Amelia’s university is “a volunteer-supported program open to anyone seeking opportunities for lifelong learning - providing intellectual, social and cultural stimulation and growth” (Markus, 2024). OLLIs sound like a great resource for older adults looking for learning opportunities.
Amelia said her university puts on professional development for faculty and staff to better handle student issues. Professional development is “gaining new skills through continuing education and career training after entering the workforce” (Parsons, 2024). Professional development can help employees stay up to date with industry trends to keep skills sharp. There are many benefits to professional development. Learning new skills, boosting confidence and credibility, developing leadership skills, building a network, and advancing career opportunities are a few of these benefits (Parsons, 2024).
Amelia mentioned lack of funding as a challenge. According to ProPublica, “the federal government provided about $675 million to states for adult education in 2021, a figure that has been stagnant for more than two decades” (Waldman, et. al, 2022). At least four factors account for the current state of poor funding of adult education: prioritization of formal schooling, lack of tools to assess returns on investment, overestimation of employers’ attention to their employees’ learning needs, and assumption that the expansion of formal schooling will lead to the establishment of more literate societies (Biao, 2022).
Kay touched on non-traditional students in the WTA. According to Linda Dale Bloomberg, author of Designing and Delivering Effective Online Instruction: How to Engage Adult Learners, the “non-traditional adult student is the new normal” (Dale Bloomberg, 2023). “Non-traditional adult learners are looking to better their own situations and part of their strategy is to engage in postsecondary education” (Chen, 2017).
Implications - Alek
I believe the project has significant implications that are far-reaching and possess incredible depth and humility. In both interviews, we observe that funding and exposure are crucial for development and sustained interest. In the OLLI program, opportunities are offered to individuals seeking lifelong learning practices. As a volunteer organization directly connected to alumni and donations, I can envision that funding is becoming a burden, much like it is for educational institutions across the nation. A suggestion for this issue could be as simple as celebrating the achievements of said programs with as much fanfare as we do a bachelors or any other higher degree.
Ms. Maher raised the concept of exposure, highlighting the battle with perception. An implication is that we must channel our energy and attention toward understanding the community and the diverse identities within it. There should be an emphasis on education not conforming to a specific mold; instead, it is the lifelong learner who breaks the mold. As Kay pointed out, particularly with the dog grooming program, there was a community-expressed need for regulation and recognition, defining what makes a successful business and determining who is qualified to provide such a service. Both programs, OLLI and WTA, provide opportunities at little to no cost, which is truly beneficial to the populations they aim to serve.
In evaluating our practices, it's crucial to ask: Can my practice be accessed by the individuals I aim to support? Does my scope include elements of social change, and is there adequate funding for this purpose? If not, how can I ensure community participation and convey that their voices are heard? Are we forming partnerships not only with educational institutions but also with the business sector to address community needs? Are we adequately representing diversity in our informational presentations?
Summary Table - Alek and Kailee
References
Biao, I. (2022). Financing adult learning and education (ALE) now and in future. International Review of Education, 68(2), 213–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-022-09950-0
Chen, J. C. (2017). Nontraditional adult learners. SAGE Open, 7(1), 215824401769716. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017697161
Dale Bloomberg, L. (2023, March 16). The non-traditional adult student is the new normal. Teachers College Press | Blog. https://www.tcpress.com/blog/charting-path-success-non-traditional-adult-student-normal/
Markus, A. (22 February 2024). Personal communication via email.
Maher, K. (2023, August 23). Des Moines Area Community College Workforce Training Program. https://www.dsmpartnership.com/news-media/blog/dmaccs-workforce-training-academy-short-term-training-long-term-results
Maher, K. (6 March 2024). Personal communication.
Parsons, L. (2024, January 17). Why is professional development important? - professional & executive development: Harvard DCE. Professional & Executive Development | Harvard DCE. https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-professional-development-important/
The programs. The Bernard Osher Foundation | The Programs. (n.d.). https://www.osherfoundation.org/programs.html
Waldman, A., Swaby, A., & Clark, A. (2022, December 23). America’s adult education system is broken. here’s how experts say we can fix it. ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/literacy-adult-education-united-states-solutions
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ReplyDeleteHi Kailee and Alek,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading over your project, especially how it points out the diversity of potential learners these programs serve. I found it interesting how they cater to such a wide range, from the 50+ crowd who want to keep learning for the sake of learning, to professionals needing to keep up with trending skills, to programs that help learners better themselves or their work situation. It’s interesting to think about how many different people are consumers of AE.
One common struggle across all projects seems to be a concern with, or lack of, funding. I think you did a fantastic job of expanding on that challenge for Amelia’s group, especially with the details on where the money goes and why “for fun” or “self-improvement” learning often gets overlooked. It’s kind of disheartening, but thanks for laying it out so clearly.