GDEV 2100

Introduction to Adult Learning

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

Do adults learn differently than do youth? This experiential and community-engaged course is for anyone interested in planning and facilitating adult, community and lifelong learning. As inquirers ourselves, we not only study principles, theories and methods, we also put into practice what we learn. One of the ways we do this is by incorporating adult learning approaches within the seminar's design and educational practice (andragogy, rather than pedagogy). Another way we apply what we study is by mentoring adult learners. Each student serves as a learning partner to a Cornell employee who is pursuing an educational aim. A journey of mutual learning is a satisfying and meaningful adventure. As employees' partners, we are co-learners and co-educators, recognizing that each person has knowledge and experience to bring to the quest.

Distribution Requirements (D-AG, KCM-AG)

Exploratory Studies (CU-CEL)

Last 4 terms offered (None)

Outcomes REF-FA25

• Explore the relationship of leadership and learning in formal, nonformal, and informal education in personal and larger contexts.
• Develop deep consciousness of one's own core values for the purpose of mindfully engaging with diverse others in constructive and respectful ways.
• Learn and apply foundational principles and processes of instructional design and demonstrate these in planning and facilitating lessons with an adult Learning Partner across differences in generation, nationality, language, class, and ethnicity.
• Examine trends of educational inequity in this country and ramifications in the lives of adults of poor schooling as children.
• Through historic and contemporary cases, unpack narratives of popular education in community development, public engagement, and social justice through formal, nonformal, and informal venues.
• Recognize that being an educator involves not only understanding issues of power, inequity, and access, but also entails conscious ethical practice in everyday decision-making.

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