Adult Education for Native Americans. Trends and Issues Alert No. 28.

Overview & Synopsis

In recent years, adult education for Native Americans has reflected broader goals and has been concerned with playing a role in preserving native language and culture rather than encouraging assimilation. These four trends appear in the literature related to adult education for Native Americans: how adult education theories and methods such as transformative learning, use of narrative, and self-directed learning apply; identifying and acknowledging learning styles of Native American adults; approaches to conducting research with Native Americans in their communities; and identifying strategies for helping Native American adults achieve success in postsecondary and higher education. The diffuse nature of the literature on adult education for Native Americans is a serious issue. The literature base lacks depth; no strands of research and theory building can be detected; the literature does not seem to build on itself; and the topics of race and culture with regard to Native Americans have received insufficient attention. (Contains 21 resources that reflect the diffuse nature of the literature on adult education for Native Americans.) (YLB)