Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice - Hardcover

Bierema, Laura L.; Fedeli, Monica; Merriam, Sharan B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1394265328 ISBN 13: 9781394265329

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 2025

Synopsis

A freshly updated and science-based guide for contemporary adult educators

In the newly revised second edition of Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice, a team of veteran adult educators delivers an authoritative guide to adult education that is solidly grounded in theory and research while remaining concise and practice oriented. Each chapter is infused with practical applications for instruction you can implement immediately to improve concrete learning outcomes.

The authors cover a variety of topics, including adult learning in the contemporary world, traditional learning theories, andragogy, motivation and learning, and more.

Readers will also find:

• Explorations of the brain and cognitive functioning as it applies to adult learners
• How to adapt and improve the adult learning experience in the digital age
• Learning and reflection activities integrated throughout each chapter

Perfect for master's-level students and practitioners alike, Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice is the up-to-date and practical adult education resource that you've been waiting for.

About this title

About the Author

Laura L. Bierema is a Professor at the University of Georgia, Mary Frances Early College of Education, in the Adult Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development program.

Monica Fedeli is a Professor and Vice-Rector at the University of Padova, and an expert in the international facilitation of adult education and learning. She is the co-editor of Connecting Adult Learning and Knowledge Management.

Sharan B. Merriam is professor emeritus of adult education and qualitative research at the University of Georgia. For five years, she was co-editor of Adult Education Quarterly, the major research and theory journal in adult education.

From the Back Cover

An accessible, research-based primer on how adults learn, and how best to teach them

“This book is a must-have, comprehensive resource for adult educators seeking to master the theory and practice of helping adults learn in a volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous environment. Each chapter examines up-to-date theories and models along with examples, strategies, tips and tools for practical application to life and work. Snapshots of 'adult learning by the numbers' provide evidence for theories. Reflective practice activities personalize learning. The authors critically consider the culture, context, intelligent technologies, and constant change that influence learning opportunities and resources in a global landscape. Their chapters on learning design and facilitation―delivered both in person and online―provide valuable hands-on guidelines, case examples, and insight into emerging trends.”
―VICTORIA J. MARSICK, PhD, Program Director and Professor, Adult Learning & Leadership, Department of Organization & Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University

This globally focused Second Edition reflects the many societal, economic, environmental, and technological changes that have occurred in recent years. Each chapter includes activities, reflection prompts, case studies, and practical tips for teaching and learning. For adult learners, adult educators, and anyone interested in the science and scholarship of teaching learning, Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice, Second Edition is the most practically oriented text on the subject.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1394265328
• ISBN 13: 9781394265329
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 544