Community Development through Leisure Adult Learning:

Community education groups can play an important role in reducing social isolationism among mature adults. The current study describes one such organization that has played an important part in the lives of about 30 mature women who have an average age of 76. Through semi-structured interviews, a thematic analysis showed that the organization has played a critical role in their social interactions, creating deep bonds among the women. What began as a group dedicated to education evolved into a strong social support network that has provided important social capital development for participants

The Intersection of Self-Directed Learning, Communities of Practice, and Social Networking: How Learners Respond to a Lack of Information

This discussion will focus on the concepts of self-directed learning and how the insufficiency of awareness about pediatric stroke, along with a scarcity of resources, affects the parents’ ability to gather information. Results indicate that the use of social networking and the formation of communities of practice were the outcomes

Faculty Development: Measuring Unintended Consequences of Individual Participation in a Community of Practice

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of outcomes associated with self-directed learners’ participation in a Community of Practice (CoP) for faculty teaching in an online environment. The research examines how faculty members perceive their involvement impacts their teaching

Exploring Agents\u27 Philosophies of Adult Education and Perceptions of the Role of Extension

This article describes our study exploring Extension agents\u27 philosophies of adult education and their perceptions of the role of Cooperative Extension for individuals and in the community. We surveyed agents in Arkansas using the Philosophy of Adult Education Inventory and open-ended questions related to the role of Extension. Most agents indicated the strongest level of agreement with the progressive philosophy. Two themes that emerged from the open-ended questions were agent as disseminator of information and impact of Extension on quality of life. Our discussion includes recommendations for professional development that involves examining one\u27s personal philosophy of adult education

Extension Cord: Powering adult education through Cooperative Extension programs

Cooperative Extension provides opportunities for adult learning in a variety of settings. The study identified perceptions of county agents related to their role in community development and adult education