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Funded by the Social Sciences and Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) grant, this national study examines arts-based adult education organizations involved in dance, music, drama, and visual arts with a philosophical perspective aligned with a multiliteracies theoretical framework. Multiliteracies considers how cultural and linguistic diversity must be fostered to encourage adults to thrive in all learning environments and recognizes that multimodality provides an expanded way to engage in literacy practices. Utilizing Carey Jewitt's four theoretical tenets to characterize multimodality serves to structure the analytical framework for the findings and discussion of this paper. Multiple case studies and constructivist grounded theory were used for the methodology. Some of the sites discussed in this paper include an art gallery; an immigration museum; and a chamber music organization that offers interactive performances. Participants included adult educators and learners who had options around face-to-face interviews; observations; document analysis of lesson plans or exemplars; or secondary data analysis of original ¿lm footage shot in these spaces. This research has found that arts-based approaches can infuse the work of adult educators to engage adult learners in inclusive pedagogy and active citizenship.

This essay addresses the transformation of Korean higher education (HE) that has occurred since COVID-19, with a focus on the digitization of teaching and learning. Digitization has impacted both remote and traditional universities and colleges. While remote higher education institutions (HEIs) have been quick responding to the changed situation, traditional universities and colleges have also been searching for various instructional methods in their online as well as traditional classrooms, experimenting for the best methods for learners. National policies have also supported this digital transformation of HEIs which has had results of the engagement of more adult learners in HE gaining credits, certificates, and academic degrees online. While new ways of being 'learner-centered' have been intensively explored in these processes, some concerns such as the competency gap of institutions and instructors, and the deepening digital divide among learners have emerged, which needs attention from policymakers, researchers and practitioners in HE.

One of the most worrying issues in Spanish education is the high school dropout rate, especially for those students who leave compulsory secondary education with no qualifications. Some of these students re-enter the system via adult education centres (AECs), where they can obtain the minimum qualification required by the labour market (the Secondary Education Graduate Certificate, the equivalent of GCSE in UK education). Entry into and adaptation to the AECs was explored in a non-probabilistic sample of 234 individuals from a total population of 2033 enrolled in 14 Catalan AECs, and the roles of a range of factors in shaping successful trajectories were analysed. The aim was to contribute to the design of strategies boosting students' well-being and raising the probability of their persisting in their studies. The results showed that when study was full-time or combined with a part-time job of half a day or fewer working hours, when there was high academic satisfaction with the centre, and when there was a feeling of empowerment and efficacy in studying, the bond to the centre and the will to continue studying there were enhanced.

Morphological knowledge refers to an individual's understanding of the structure and meaning of words based on their familiarity with morphemes (i.e., word parts, including prefixes, suffixes, and bases). This knowledge is crucial to developing various aspects of language and literacy to successfully function in 21st century education and workplace settings, including vocabulary, spelling, phonological awareness, word reading, and reading comprehension. This research digest provides a brief review on why morphological knowledge is important to literacy for adult education leaners. Next, we briefly describe the literature on adult morphological and etymological instruction and provide examples for how to integrate them in the classroom with adult education learners. We conclude with future directions and resources for research and educational practice.

In this study, the attitudes of adult learners towards distance education were examined and the study motivation and satisfaction level of adult learners, which are two important factors affecting participation, continuation and even dropout, were examined. This study was conducted in a relational research design in quantitative research model and data were collected with the help of three relational scales. These scales are "Attitude towards Distance Education Scale," "Distance Education Satisfaction Scale" and "Online Learning Motivation Scale." In this study, there were 350 participants, 302 women and 48 men. Adult learners of distance pedagogical formation program were selected within the scope of "purposive sampling method." "Regression analysis" was conducted with "the bootstrap method" to test the mediating role of motivational behavior in online learning in the effect of individuals studying via distance education on attitude towards distance education and satisfaction in distance education. Process macro developed by Hayes (2018) was used in the analysis. Accordingly, it was found that the indirect effect of attitude towards distance education on satisfaction with distance education was significant. Thus, it was determined that motivation in online learning mediates the relationship between attitude towards distance education and satisfaction with distance education. This study revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between attitude towards distance education and satisfaction with distance education. There is a significant positive relationship between attitude towards distance education and online learning motivation. There is a significant positive relationship between satisfaction with distance education and online learning motivation, and in the mediation model, it is seen that all path coefficients are significant in the mediation model of distance education students' attitudes towards distance education affecting their satisfaction with distance education through their online learning motivation.

Questions regarding the most effective teaching modality in foreign language instruction remain especially important for adult educators, since adult students have conflicting demands on their time and need to see the value of training. This research was centered around three cohorts of students taking courses of English of the same content and volume from the same provider. The students were university faculty and thus, of comparable demographics, and the courses were funded by the university. Over several years, and as the result of COVID-related restrictions, the courses were delivered in face-to-face (F2F), online, and blended modalities incorporating flipped classroom in the latter two. The aim of the research was to investigate the impact of a course modality on the perceived teaching effectiveness of a language course for adults. A quasi-experiment was used as a type of sequential mixed method. Relative perceived effectiveness of each modality was drawn from a combination of student evaluation of teaching (SET) and semi-structured interviews with former students who acted as both alumni and experts in education. SET comparison revealed no significant differences in results among the three modalities while interviews indicated a preference for the blended learning. At the same time, SETs of fee-paying students with comparable demographics taking similar courses at the same institution and analyzed previously showed a distinctive preference for a blended approach. That might be due to the differences in resources these two groups invested in studies: time vs time and money. The results imply that adult language educators have the flexibility to choose a modality while ensuring teaching effectiveness.

The aim of this mixed-methods study was to explore the engagement experiences of undergraduate adult students (n = 77) in fully online courses. Results of the study revealed participants spent approximately half of their educational time per week on engagement activities. Participants in this study frequently interacted with peers in activities such as online discussion and group projects, but they did not value this engagement as much as getting to know and feeling connected to their faculty. The findings of this study highlight the importance of faculty, and specifically faculty involvement, to the engagement experiences of adult online students.

On average, the college graduation rates for minority and/or high-need students are generally low. To address this situation, a Mid-Atlantic Consortium recently secured a grant to improve 4-year graduation rates of high=need students (i.e., new first-time students and transfer students who qualify as low-income students, first-generation college students, adult students, and/or students of color) by 20% over each selected college's baseline. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the experiences of students and faculty mentors toward accomplishing this goal. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically. Some of the effects identified in this study included enhanced academic and career planning, strengthening relationships between mentors-mentees through enhanced communication and trust building, enhanced research skills, development of mentorship skills, development of intellectual curiosity, and improved academic outcomes. We discuss implications for practice, policy, and further research.

Context: The paper focuses on an analysis of school-based vocational education and training (VET) of adults in Slovakia against the background of the concept of second-chance education (hereafter SCE). The concept of SCE involves different conditions of education to those that adults faced during their initial education and were unable to meet. Adults primarily study part-time, where they are offered a mirror image of a reduced full-time programme rather than an alternative space for obtaining a degree. Approach: Several theoretical research methods were used in the paper. An analysis of available statistical data about adults in VET, secondary analysis of relevant literature, the authors' own findings from previous research, and a comparison of selected characteristics of VET of adults in Slovakia with the principles of second chance education allowed for the formulation of synthesised findings and recommendations on necessary changes in adult education in vocational education and training. Findings: The absence of SCE principles in the vocational education and training of adults in Slovakia is one of the reasons for insufficient participation of low-educated adults. Neither schools, nor the state or municipalities, nor employment offices have created a mechanism for acquiring and keeping adults in education. VET of adults does not fulfil a social integration function because it is mostly used by adults who are upgrading or supplementing their existing qualifications. A significant manifestation of the lack of interest in improving the situation of the low-educated in VET is, among other things, the absence of training programmes that would prepare teachers for a non-mainstream educational process with nonmainstream pupils. The measures, which would be aimed at increasing the participation of the low-educated adults in secondary education are absent. This situation results, among other things, in persistent regional disparities in adult participation in education, which deepen the marginalisation of entire regions and their populations. Conclusion: The VET of adults in Slovakia lacks the concept of second-chance education that would enable those who needed it the most to enter and obtain higher level of education. The implementation of the elements of the SCE concept in VET would allow for an increase in the participation and success of the most vulnerable groups of adults with the lowest education and socio-economic status.

This study is the first to explore microdevelopment in sociolinguistic evaluative judgments of standard German and Austro-Bavarian dialect by adult second language learners of German by using dense time serial measurements. Intensive longitudinal data (10 observations per participant) were collected from four learners at approximately weekly intervals over 3 months. We employed generalized additive models with superimposed periods of significant change to identify rapid developmental phases in individual developmental trajectories. By triangulating these models with qualitative introspective and retrodictive interview data, we identified environmental and psychological stimuli for change. Learners evinced increasing and decreasing periods of significant change, independent of length of residence. Dynamic constellations of identity- and agency-related variables alongside more intensive social interaction with target-variety speakers contributed to significant changes. We discuss findings from a complexity perspective and advocate for microlongitudinal studies in variationist second language acquisition to better capture stimuli for change in learners' emerging multivarietal repertoires.

This study explores the potential of ChatGPT as a virtual tutor to facilitate self-directed learning (SDL) among adult learners in asynchronous online contexts. Although SDL has been identified as a critical skill, factors such as the lack of skills to find resources and the absence of a supportive learning environment could impede adult learners' ability to engage in SDL. By harnessing the power of AI, ChatGPT can assist adult learners in setting learning goals, locating available resources, designing personalized learning plans, monitoring their performance, and reflecting on their learning experiences, ultimately leading to the effective completion of SDL. This study also discusses several existing limitations and challenges, including the need for instructors to provide guidance on creating prompts to use ChatGPT effectively, the possibility of learners becoming reliant on ChatGPT, the significance of institutions to provide policies of proper use of ChatGPT, and the necessary for AI developers to continuously improve the algorithms and data used by the system to minimize the likelihood of providing incorrect and irrelevant information. Additionally, some questions are raised regarding the balance between the use of ChatGPT and engagement with human instructors to ensure optimal learning outcomes. This study aims to enlighten adult educators and practitioners towards the integration of ChatGPT in asynchronous online learning to facilitate adult learning.

Adult learners are a significant proportion of distance learners and many of these students are working mothers. Several instructional design models center the learner, and this requires understanding the learner needs, strengths, and context. There is a gap in the literature describing the experience of modern working mother students in distance education. To understand this experience, the researchers interviewed and observed six academically high-achieving working mother students as they participated in their distance education courses during the pandemic. A discourse analysis approach was utilized to analyze the data. This extreme sample revealed several strategies that these students used to be successful despite their challenges. The findings suggest that understanding the experiences of distance learners as they study in the home are important for effective course design. More specifically, working mothers face significant distractions in their study environments, but the cognitive load can be reduced by making use of their prior knowledge, scaffolding instruction, and encouraging social presence. Additional strategies from the literature that address these constructs are provided for instructors and instructional designers.

Background Study: Asynchronous online discussions are vital venues for collaborative knowledge construction. However, the lack of appropriate instruction designs poses challenges in promoting deep and substantive engagement with the core subject matter. This paper explores how to enhance adult students' knowledge construction in the context of asynchronous online discussions at an open university in Taiwan. Objectives: This study explores instructional designs aimed at promoting online knowledge construction among adult students and overcoming barriers to this process. Methods: This study used a convergent parallel mixed methods design to collect concurrently both quantitative data from the students' online discussion postings for content analysis and qualitative data from the focus group and individual interviews, the online open-ended questionnaire, and the instructor's observation logs for thematic analysis. Then the results were merged in the interpretation stage. Results and Conclusion: The research highlights the significance of instructional designs in influencing students' level of knowledge construction during online discussions. The findings suggest that instructional designs that provide teacher-led interim summaries, pose Socratic questions, and incorporate problem-solving projects can promote higher-level knowledge construction. However, time constraints, cultural influences, and unfamiliarity with peers negatively affected higher-order knowledge construction. To address these challenges, culturally responsive and technologically inclusive instructional designs that take into account the specific challenges faced by adult learners are proposed to enhance learning outcomes through active participation. Limitation: The study's limited sample size warrants further research with a larger and more diverse cohort to validate the effectiveness of the proposed instructional designs. Another limitation is the lack of a robust theoretical base for the instructional strategies presented by the current action-research study. Further examination and broader exploration in online education are needed to prop up proposed pedagogical approaches.

Traditional engineering education (Eng. Ed) has received criticism for restricting student learning and experiences to practical skills development while ignoring the significance of fostering cognitive skills that encourage higher order thinking, criticality, and self-reflexivity. Imaginative education (IE) has emerged as a consideration for replacing such skills focused engineering curricula with interactive, engaging, and student-centered pedagogical approaches. However, existing literature on the topic as well as Egan's (1997) own explanation of the five stages of understanding (somatic, mythic, romantic, philosophic, and ironic) are mainly focused on K-12 contexts, leaving limited resources and insights for higher education contexts. This calls for theoretical and practical expansion of the topic where development and implementation of IE-informed Eng. Ed for adult engineering students remain the focus. To respond to this call, this conceptual paper focuses on two main points. First, it attempts to unpack the theoretical underpinnings of the five stages of IE to understand what each stage means for educators and learners in higher education engineering contexts. Second, after outlining the challenges that traditional Eng. Ed is facing in a globalized world today and the initiatives from the field to address them, it discusses the promises IE can bring to make Eng. Ed more effective, inclusive, and relevant. Overall, the intention in this paper is to turn to the theoretical tensions that may emerge when considering IE as an approach to re-imagine and expand Eng. Ed.

Online courses are particularly attractive in continuing education because they offer a high degree of autonomy and flexibility, although this requires learners to take greater responsibility for self-regulating their learning. That can be challenging for adult learners as they need to handle other obligations in addition to learning. Thus, self-regulated learning (SRL) support might be needed. In the present study, we aimed to investigate how the specific SRL challenges that adult learners face in online courses can be supported adaptively. Main challenges for adult learners consist in managing learning resources (e.g., time, attention, learning environment). To address these challenges, we developed an adaptive support intervention comprising several features. To assess the effects of the adaptive support on the self-reported SRL strategy application of adult learners, we analysed data from five iterations of a continuing education online course comparing iterations with adaptive support (with a total of N = 36 participants) to iterations without (with a total of N = 35 participants). Results indicate that the adaptive support significantly improved environmental structuring but did not significantly affect other SRL strategies. Further analyses revealed that learners who did not use the support deteriorated in managing their learning time and in setting specific learning goals during the course.

The objective of this study is to explore new ways of assessing collaborative problem solving (CPS) processes based on different modalities of audio data and their combination. The data collection took place in an educational lab setting during an experiment with adult teams from professional contexts who collaboratively solved multiple problems as part of a CPS training. From audio data, both verbal (i.e., speech) and non-verbal (i.e., pitch) aspects were extracted. Four analysis methods were used, including (a) content analysis; (b) linguistic inquiry and word count; (c) verbal entrainment analysis; and (d) acoustic-prosodic entrainment based on pitch data. Insights are given into the CPS processes of the participating groups using these measures and relevant relationships between some of these measures are further investigated. Based on content analysis, it was found that most of the interactions during the CPS process are task oriented, whereas team-oriented interactions are less present. Second, three measures of proportion of contribution in CPS were investigated and clear differences in participation patterns between and within teams were found. We suggest that a combination of utterance count and words per sentence could provide valuable insights for quantity and equality of participation. Third, the study explored pronoun use and found that the most frequently used personal pronouns were first-person singular. Next, the results indicated a relationship between pronoun use and the relative frequency of interactions. Fourth, a rather weak relationship between lexical entrainment measures and the acoustic-prosodic measures were found, suggesting that these measures are indicative of separate communicative aspects in CPS. This study contributes to a better understanding of which type of audio-based data is most informative to teachers and students as a feedback or assessment tool. This study complements previous research as it focuses on spoken human-to-human communication collected in an authentic context.

Emergentist, usage-based L2 research has witnessed that emphasizing formulaic sequences as entry points in meaning-based instructional contexts contributes to the development of linguistic comprehension and production. Related studies have thus far striven to find the most effective methods of highlighting these word strings. This study explored the effects of the focus on lexis (FonL) approach on L2 learners' development of phraseological competence. Furthermore, it probed whether incidental and intentional FonL approaches result in any differential effects on the learners' development of phraseology. Participants were 60 L2 learners in three intact classes randomly assigned to one control and two experimental FonL groups. Their general language proficiency was measured by administering a Cambridge PET Test. Additionally, a pre-test was used to measure their prior knowledge of phraseology. The control group received the mainstream typical instruction, whereas the experimental groups received incidental versus intentional FonL, differentially heightening noticing of conventionalized lexis expressions in L2 reading. A parallel posttest was administered to measure the development of learners' phraseological competence. ANCOVA results indicated that the lexis groups made greater gains in their phraseology as compared to the control group. Moreover, differential effects were evidenced specifically in favor of the use of intentional FonL. The findings indicate that the varied amount of attention L2 learners pay to aspects of formulaicity in language use can influence the extent to which lexis-based input and interaction lead to intake. Theoretical and pedagogical implications of the study are discussed at the end.

Many adult English learners enroll in U.S. Adult Basic Education programs every year. The federally defined goal of these programs is to increase adult learners' skills to enable them to enter the workforce, but it is not clear whether this purpose matches learners' own motivations for entering these programs. Using the lens of self-authorship theory of adult development, this small qualitative case study investigated learning motivations among three adult ELs in an Adult Basic Education college and career preparation class. Data included two qualitative interviews per participant, demographic questionnaires, and reading scores. Interviews were analyzed using the grounded theory approach to qualitative interview analysis. This study presents findings unique to three learners in this study, which was part of a larger cases study investigating learning experiences of nine adult learners from an adult developmental perspective. The three learners in this study constructed meaning from a developmental perspective growing toward self-authorship, characterized by orienting to an internal authority and self-defined goals. This article discusses these distinct self-authored learning motivations and offers implications for adult education programs to respond to the self-authored learning motivations of adult English learners.

This study examines learners' experiences and the use of language learning applications ("apps") as a primary source of "second or additional language learning" ("L2") instruction and assessment in higher education. It purviews the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features that support technology-enhanced language learning experiences. Principles of pedagogy, heutagogy, and self-determination theory are used to inform the appropriate design and application of AI to support language learning. We examine the congruence between learner's goals with perceived outcomes following a 4-week language learning intervention using an app. A survey of n = 151 adult learners across two Canadian universities revealed: (a) apps are perceived as an engaging, convenient, and structured approach to early stages of L2 learning and (b) the integration of AI for conversation-based simulations or speech recognition would enable more adaptive, personalized L2 learning experiences. The authors discuss implications for future developments and AI uptake for language learning apps.

Using data from 27 European countries in the academic years 2005/06, 2010/11, and 2015/16, we investigate the association between student funding policies and student labour during term time -- a phenomenon often seen as detrimental for higher education outcomes. Income substitution effects between entitlements to different types of financial aid and labour income can vary depending on national context, including prevailing norms with regard to students' transition to independent adulthood. Thus, we use panel regressions with random effects for countries, controlling for relevant factors like average wages in the economy. We could not reject the null hypothesis of no relationship between student funding policy and the share of students in employment. On the other hand, generosity of student funding, in particular of its non-repayable components, was negatively, albeit weakly, associated with the average hours worked by employed students. We found this pattern to be more prevalent among older and female students, but not among students living with parents or from lower educational backgrounds. Overall, student funding policies explain little cross-country variance in student labour. This could be attributed to students' preference to use public funding as a substitute of parental transfers or a mean for increasing their total income.

In many Western societies, earning a degree is considered an ultimate educational achievement. Second chance education (SCE) serves as a distinct pathway for those who have dropped out of school, allowing them to re-enter the educational system. Understanding the specific obstacles and needs of students in SCE is crucial for providing better-tailored support. However, limited knowledge exists about the challenges faced by students seeking to enrol in SCE. This qualitative study conducted in-depth interviews with 28 drop-in students (M[subscript age] = 30) to explore these barriers and needs. Identified barriers span institutional, situational, environmental, and life-course levels. Primary needs centre around warm and accessible teachers, as well as flexible, student-focused learning options. The results underscore the value and significance of second chance education as a unique pedagogical context for drop-in students. It also emphasizes that the insights gained from SCE can inform improvements in regular, first-chance education, serving diverse student populations. Lastly, SCE serves as a societal mirror, urging a re-evaluation of the broader discourse in education. Overall, this study calls for more appreciation of SCE, acknowledging and recognizing its unique pedagogical context, dedicated teachers, and determined students.

Many second language pedagogy experts recommend that curricular and instructional planning should begin with needs analysis. Few, however, recommend assessing students' strengths, and those that do seem not to consider learners' strengths to be integral to planning or instruction. Teacher preparation programs and materials that foreground needs analysis while unintentionally marginalizing students' assets might lead teachers to develop a deficit perspective (see Hertzog, 2011), perhaps even leading them to see learners as problems and engender in students a "deficit ESL identity" (Marshall, 2009, p. 51). This article seeks to rectify this imbalance by reporting the results of a case study in which an adult learner's nonscholastic strengths were identified and then foregrounded during instruction to help encourage and reinforce their developing sense of L2 self-efficacy. The results suggest that systematic analysis and reminders of learners' nonscholastic strengths and successes can have powerful effects on learners' L2 self-efficacy beliefs, thereby building and sustaining momentum in the face of language learning obstacles and threats to motivation. The study also has implications for teacher educators in that preparing teachers to focus on learners' assets prior to and during instruction could enhance teachers' understanding of and expectations for their students.

Introduction: Despite the necessity for adults with lower literacy skills to undergo and succeed in high-stakes computer-administered assessments (e.g., GED, HiSET), there remains a gap in understanding their engagement with digital literacy assessments. Methods: This study analyzed process data, specifically time allocation data, from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), to investigate adult respondents' patterns of engagement across all proficiency levels on nine digital literacy items. We used cluster analysis to identify distinct groups with similar time allocation patterns among adults scoring lower on the digital literacy assessment. Finally, we employed logistic regression to examine whether the groups varied by demographic factors, in particular individual (e.g., race/ethnicity, age) and contextual factors (e.g., skills-use at home). Results: Adults with lower literacy skills spent significantly less time on many of the items than adults with higher literacy skills. Among adults with lower literacy skills, two groups of time allocation patterns emerged: one group (Cluster 1) exhibited significantly longer engagement times, whereas the other group (Cluster 2) demonstrated comparatively shorter durations. Finally, we found that adults who had a higher probability of Cluster 1 membership (spending more time) exhibited relatively higher literacy scores, higher self-reported engagement in writing skills at home, were older, unemployed, and self-identified as Black. Discussion: These findings emphasize differences in digital literacy engagement among adults with varying proficiency levels. Additionally, this study provides insights for the development of targeted interventions aimed at improving digital literacy assessment outcomes for adults with lower literacy skills.

Mature-age students who are the first in their family to attend university have navigated a challenging road to higher education. The aim of the present study was to understand the influence and interaction of familial and personal stories of this cohort and their choices about university study -- why they initially did not go after high school, and what brought them to university years later. Six first-year students at an Australian university completed qualitative interviews which were thematically analysed. Findings indicated that early in life families discouraged higher education, but students were able to integrate these familial stories with new, life-affirming, personal stories. Students' choice to attend university was related to psychological capital and agentic abilities via the stories of optimism, hope, efficacy and resilience. Familial stories acted as forerunners to resilience-building for envisioning life-affirming stories about future opportunities for university study and for stability a university degree represented.

This paper explores the relationship between additional language (L2) literacy development and drama plays based on the experiences of adult refugees from Ukraine in Iceland. This inquiry is guided by the following questions: What are the learners' experiences and perceptions of drama classes in relation to their literacy development in Icelandic as an L2? What role might engaging in drama classes have when it comes to learners' sense of well-being? We employ a multiliteracies perspective, which has pluralised the traditional view of literacy and offered new insight into literacy teaching and learning by integrating multimodal, multi-sensorial, and critical practices into literacy education. The findings originate from a qualitative, interview-based study with five Ukrainian learners of a refugee background in Iceland. Findings suggest that learning Icelandic through drama afforded the learners an opportunity to learn Icelandic in creative, engaging, and meaningful ways. Furthermore, learning Icelandic through drama supported the enactment and development of essential capacities for personal and professional growth, such as open-mindedness, tolerance, respect, and collaboration. Many of the learners felt positively challenged to try out something new. This paper concludes with a discussion on the importance of critical, experiential L2 education that acknowledges learners' diverse lived experiences.

Recent research reveals that many students are "swirling," or transferring more than one time, and not always vertically. This rise in swirlers suggests that some students choose transfer institutions that do not fit their needs. Yet, very little research examines the choices students make as they seek to transfer from one school to another, and there is even less information about the experience of adult learners who transfer multiple times. The purpose of this descriptive case study is to explore the experiences and transfer college decision process of students who have transferred multiple times. Through examining the narratives of five swirling students, most of whom are adult learners, we aim to provide recommendations on how institutions can better support the choice process of non-traditional students and adult learners.

In this paper, I explore the ways that educators can nurture transformative learning for adult students by engaging emotions, particularly shame. I discuss how shame mitigates adult student experiences, successes, and failures in higher education, and how a relational pedagogy of vulnerability can support adult learners. This approach not only helps adult learners but reifies liberatory education for students and teachers alike, challenging hegemonic norms in higher education that often limit and exclude adult learners.

Research informing adult education teachers' didactic practices in distance education is scarce. Approaching the adult learner's perspectives on how distance education is perceived is key to informing future initiatives. This study explores adult learners' perception of distance education, concentrating on aspects such as, social presence, course structure, and perceived learning and satisfaction. A survey was distributed to teachers (n = 78) in five schools organising adult distance education. Findings show that teacher accessibility and course structure correlated positively with social presence and perceived learning and satisfaction. Overall, adult learners are satisfied with their distance teaching. A challenge facing adult distance education is to create a sense of social presence despite the high demand for flexibility. Thus, we explored learner perceptions of benefits and challenges in distance education and structured these into social, cognitive, spatio-temporal, emotional, and technical dimensions. Findings reveal that one challenge in the social dimension was a lack of connection with peers, and a benefit in the cognitive dimension referred to autonomy and self-regulation. These findings are important as educational institutions and policymakers may strive for high flexibility, which in turn may lead to lower group cohesion and a lack of social presence.

An extensive number of corrective feedback (CF) studies have examined learners' errors with grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and spelling (non-formulaic forms) and established an association between learners' uptake of CF and their second language development. However, learners' errors with formulaic sequences (FSs) comprising idioms, collocations, lexical bundles, and compounds (formulaic forms) have received scant attention in CF research. This study investigated any associations among formulaic vs. non-formulaic errors, CF types, uptake, and successful uptake rate by drawing on the audio-recordings of 36 hours of primarily meaning-oriented teacher-learner interactions in three advanced English as a foreign language classes. The findings demonstrated that learners made more errors with FSs, whereas CF was provided significantly more often for their non-formulaic errors. Learners' non-formulaic and formulaic errors were treated significantly more frequently through recasts and elicitations, respectively. Uptake and successful uptake rate was significantly higher when CF was provided for learners' formulaic errors than non-formulaic ones, which could be explained by relatively greater saliency, significance, and noticeability of FSs. The findings of log-linear analyses indicated that uptake and successful uptake rate varied depending on formulaic vs. non-formulaic foci of errors and CF types.

Expansionary policies to widen participation in higher education have led to a growth in alternative entry pathways into university. This study considers the experiences and retention outcomes of those entering Australian universities through different pathways, and how these vary across diverse student groups. Data were drawn from linked student administrative records for 81,874 students from sixteen Australian universities who commenced a Bachelor degree in 2015, with academic enrolment status tracked over five years, as well as data from a national survey of student experience conducted in 2019. Students from alternative pathways were associated with lower retention outcomes in the first year of study and poorer course completion outcomes, except those entering via pathway provider and enabling programs who reported more favourable retention compared to secondary school entrants. Students from equity group backgrounds were also associated with poorer retention outcomes, particularly Indigenous students, mature-age students, and those with disability. Associations between entry pathways, equity group status, and student experience were mixed. For example, equity group students generally had positive assessments of student experience, apart from those with disability, yet were associated with increased probabilities of intention to dropout from study. Social and personal reasons were found to be main drivers of dropout intention across different student groups. Findings highlight the need to address the varying factors that affect students entering through different pathways and from diverse backgrounds, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The study's recommendations inform stakeholders seeking to improve the experience and outcomes of diverse student groups entering higher education.

All around the globe, the development of digital skills is considered a priority because individuals are increasingly asked to interact with digital information. Digital literacy is required to communicate effectively and accomplish social and work-related tasks. Although there is a significant body of literature on the development of digital proficiencies in educational settings from elementary school to university, there is limited research with adults who are continuing their education later in life, usually outside of formal educational systems. The purpose of this paper is to report results from a study conducted with English learners in an adult education program in the U.S. The study evaluated the digital component of a new curriculum named CILIA-T (Content-Integrated Language Instruction for Adults with Technology Support), CILIA-T is a 16-module curriculum supporting adult learners to build their English skills, US History and Civics knowledge and digital proficiencies. In this study, researchers partnered with teachers to introduce part of the digital literacy content of the curriculum. There was a test given before and after the teaching. To determine the effectiveness of the digital literacy curriculum, the scores on the pre and post-tests and the duration to complete the pre and post-tests were analyzed. There were also learner and teacher surveys to evaluate the usability and utility of the curriculum. Main findings indicated that explicit instruction in digital literacy skills led to significant improvement across all participants. Teachers and learners found the digital literacy curriculum to be helpful and relevant.

In recent years, an increasing drumbeat around emotion research in ELT has brought to the fore an appreciation of teacher psychology and the emotional underpinnings of the teacher-student relationship. This study explores how students report their teacher's classroom behavior and how those observations lead learners to make broader impressions about the teacher's mental state. As part of a larger study, 129 adult EFL students took a web survey about their teacher's classroom behavior, perceived overall happiness, and their perceived wellbeing. Results revealed that teacher behavior was strongly correlated with perceived teacher wellbeing and happiness, meaning that based on how teachers behave in the classroom, students make far-reaching assumptions about their wellbeing beyond the classroom. Due to the phenomenon of emotional contagion, when students think their teachers are happy, they may also feel more positive emotions in the classroom. Suggestions for teachers are discussed, such as strategies for making the best of challenging situations and promoting healthy student relationships as a means to promote teacher and learner wellbeing. Suggestions for potential institutional changes are also made.

Numerous projects and programmes for adult literacy have been undertaken in developing countries in the past years, so it comes as no surprise that the fundamental problems and the global statistics on literacy have not changed even slightly in a country like South Africa. The present study examines the elearning readiness of adult facilitators and learners involved in adult literacy programmes and has these objectives: examine facilitators and learners on the use of technology in the adult literacy programme, investigate the use of technology for elearning in adult literacy programmes, and ascertain the extent to which elearning can motivate learners to learn. The study was underpinned by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), whereby a convergent mixed-method approach was adopted in which quantitative and qualitative data were collected simultaneously, analysed separately, and interpreted. Data were collected through questionnaires and semi structured interviews from 120 adult learners that were randomly selected, and ten adult facilitators conveniently selected from the literacy centres in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The study recommends that adult literacy centres should be equipped with relevant ICT gadgets to enhance adult literacy programmes and all adult literacy education stakeholders should be involved in the implementation process. Additionally, the government should make elearning an area of focus for a future literacy programmes.

Decades of research related to the experience of postsecondary students who are adults, work full-time, or have other life roles have not led to agreement in the field regarding who is a "nontraditional" college student. This study leverages nationally representative data to illuminate shifts in this student population in the 21st century and builds a picture of their demographics, financial aid receipt, and academic experiences. Our results suggest that, in order to capture the diversity of the 21st century students and ubiquity of students with multiple life roles, we need to carefully define this student population; the use of the term "neotraditional" would better capture the central place of students with varying life circumstances in contemporary higher education. Our descriptive analyses illuminate the implications of different definitions of neotraditionality, the landscape of neotraditional student enrollment, differences in aid receipts, and changes among this population in the past two decades. We discuss the importance of how researchers, practitioners, and policymakers define this student population and the implications of such definitions for serving this population in higher education.

This is a study of the process of biographical learning and how it can be observed in narration. There have not yet been empirical studies focused explicitly on the learning aspects of biographical learning, as scholars have focused more on the biographical part of the concept -- more on the question of what is learned than of how it is learned. This text therefore concentrates on the learning process itself within biographical learning, using data from 29 biographical narrative interviews with mature students studying for education degrees in Czech higher education. The results show that narrators do not present their experiences separately in their narration, one after another. The narrative analysis revealed that their experiences are intertwined. In adding another experience, the narrators discover new meanings. It is therefore possible to talk about the learning process going on in the narration. The narrative analysis identified three types of this biographical learning as reflected in narration: learning by analogy, learning by audit, and learning by authority. In learning by analogy, experiences are compared to one another, creating an analogy between them. Learning by authority involves the influence of a past experience on the present day. Learning by audit is a retrospective movement, looking at a past experience through the lens of the present. The results presented here have implications for both adult education research and practice.

Students face various barriers in learning English via distance education. The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to collect quantitative and qualitative data regarding students' emotional intelligence (EI) and the situational barriers (SB) they faced in learning English via distance education. In phase one, 238 students voluntarily submitted their questionnaires containing Schutte's Self-Report Inventory Emotional Intelligence scale. The mean EI score of the distance learners was 130. Based on the EI scores, three subgroups of respondents; HighEI, MidEI, and LowEI were identified. In phase two, 18 participants chosen based on their EI scores were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. The qualitative data revealed eight major situational barriers. Out of these, SB1 Job, SB2 Family and Home, and SB4 Time were most frequently cited. The study also found that distance learners' EI was significantly related to their perceptions of the situational barriers to learning English through distance education. Studies affirmed higher EI students are better at moderating the negative effects of challenging circumstances and achieving their goals. Thus, it is crucial to fortify students' EI through training, mentoring, and counselling programs to empower them to moderate their barriers, persevere, communicate with others, and make informed decisions to achieve academic success.