Values and Informal Education: From Indigenous Africa to 21st Century Vermillion

Values cut through every human activity and are integral to human existence because human beings are ‘valuing animals’. Values motivate most adults to engage in any learning activity. Values in informal education are foundations for lifelong learning as a basis for participatory democracy, equity and social justice. This paper uses literature to do a conceptual analysis of values and informal education as imperatives for participatory democracy and social justice

Investigating the World of Adult Education in Africa

Adult education in contemporary Africa is faced with a range of problems. This paper tries to stimulate some level of debate around these problems and hopes to include adult education in Africa in the global investigation of the world of adult education

Student Privacy and Learning Analytics: Investigating the Application of Privacy within A Student Success Information System in Higher Education

This single-site case study will seek to answer the following question: how is the concept of privacy addressed in relation to a student success information system within a small, public institution of higher education? Three themes were found within the inductive coding process, which used interviews, documentation, and videos as data resources. Overall, the case study shows an institution in the early stages of implementing a commercial learning analytics system and provides suggestions for how it can be more proactive in implementing privacy considerations in developing policies and procedures

The Relationship Between Superintendent Servant Leadership Behavior and Principal Job Satisfaction in Iowa

Data from recent studies indicate that school principal turnover is high and that some principals suggest low job satisfaction levels. Superintendent leadership can influence the job satisfaction level of principals. This study examined the extent to which superintendent servant leadership behaviors correlate with principal job satisfaction. The population included all public school principals in the state. The final sample size consisted of 312 principals. The study utilized two survey instruments to explore superintendent servant leadership characteristics and job satisfaction data. The servant leadership characteristics included accountability, authenticity, courage, empowerment, forgiveness, humility, standing back, and stewardship. Questions investigating principal job satisfaction were broken into intrinsic and extrinsic subcategories. Results indicated a statistically significant relationship between superintendent servant leadership behavior and overall principal job satisfaction. Data also showed statistically significant relationships between each of the eight servant leadership characteristics and overall principal job satisfaction

Evaluating Interprofessional Competencies and Knowledge of and Confidence in Addressing Social Determinants of Health

Promoting health requires coordinated, team-based interventions responsive to multiple determinants of health. This study aimed to determine if interprofessional competencies and knowledge of and confidence in addressing the social determinants of health improved following an interprofessional learning event. A two-group randomized controlled trial was used to determine study outcomes among 408 health science students from 14 health profession programs in the Midwest. Formed groups were randomly assigned to the customary medical-based (control) or social determinants of health focused (experimental) case study. In small groups students engaged in a case study simulation and offered recommendations for intervention. Small improvements in knowledge of the social determinants of health were found among participants in both groups. Interprofessional competencies largely showed no significant differences between using the case study which emphasized social determinants of health compared to a medically based case study. The suggestions for interventions resulted in more frequent recommendations related to socioeconomic status and access to health care among students in the experimental group versus the recommendation of medically based health services among students in the control group. Additional qualitative research is recommended to learn more about how groups collaborated to form these recommendations

Development of Learning Materials to Address Social and Medical Factors Impacting a Minoritized Population

Health outcomes are multi-factorial. Health professionals must weigh all factors when making recommendations and providing intervention, however, limited learning materials which describe the health of minoritized populations exist for students in health science educational programs, necessitating the development of content for interprofessional learning that address the health factors experienced by underserved populations. This study used a descriptive design. Eleven expert content reviewers from eight health science and medical professions were recruited and provided feedback on the quality and content of a developed case study that described the lifestyle and health status of an individual from an ethnic minoritized population. Participants strongly agreed that the content strengthened the case study’s usefulness as a tool for interdisciplinary education. Most reviewers strongly agreed that social factors were a key component of the case and that it was suitable for use in interdisciplinary education. Incorporating social determinants into a case was viewed favorably by case reviewers who indicated that the components of the case were high quality and important as a tool for interprofessional education

Paulo Freire's humanism and the challenges of 21st century adult education

Paulo Freire's humanistic adult education ideas were woven around his literacy 'method' that is synonymous with Conscientization. His ideas were aimed at empowering adult learners through the ability for critical thinking. He focused on critical thinking as a way of using education to rescue learners from decadent educational and political systems and making them truly human. This paper analyzes Freire's Conscientization and argues that it is more appropriate for addressing most of the challenges that confront 21st century adult education and adult learners. The discussion in this paper uses 21st century synonymously with globalization

Adult education and religious literacy

The preponderance of religion-related violence especially in recent times seems to suggest some form of religious 'illiteracy'. This paper argues that there is a sense in which religious literacy advances religious tolerance. It further argues for a renewed role of adult education in advancing religious literacy and, by implication, combating religious intolerance. The paper uses examples from recent events and from some religions, including traditional African religion to buttress its argument

Preface

This volume brought together scholars from various parts of the world to provide the readers with the latest research in transnational higher education and transcultural learning and teaching theories, as well as findings, best practices, and emerging trends. Practitioners will find best practice cases that they can cross-culturally adapt to develop, implement, and assess their own courses and programs. This book can serve as a good companion for faculty, administrators, and leaders in postsecondary institutions to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programs and courses related to transnational higher education and learning. The book includes conceptual and theoretical frameworks that can inform studies to provide leaders and administrators in colleges and universities with research-based support to make decisions related to transnational education in a systemic way. Topics include, but are not limited to: • Definitions of transnational higher education • Theories on transnational higher education • Delivery models • Transcultural learning • Critical pedagogy for transnational education and learning • Transcultural consciousness in transnational education • Inter-institutional/joint degree curriculum experiences • Issues and topics in transnational higher education requiring further researc