Adult Education Philosophies

  When you start out on a journey you may consult a compass to get your bearings before you travel through unknown territory.  Like a compass, a philosophy of adult education provides the adult educator with direction. Articulating one's philosophy of adult education can enhance critical reflection and the discovery of new perspectives on educational practice, and can effect both beliefs and behaviours in the  classroom (Lange, 2006; Tisdell & Taylor, 2000); it may also reveal the unconscious power dynamics associated with the field of education (Brookfield, 1998). In this section of the website, I present five adult education philosophies which serve as a basis from which I discuss, analyze and critique my emerging adult education philosophy. Click on the images to explore the content.