Dr. Michael Wooten is the author of Chapters 4 (on the brain) and 13 (this podcast). He is Emeritus Professor of Genetics with the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University. Wooten reflects on his 36-year career as a faculty member within a land-grant institution of higher learning. He shares how the common practice of faculty members in the sciences begin teaching without any formal training in education theory and how he navigated the learning journey.

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Dr Stephen O’Brien the author of Chapter 11 and is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, University College Cork, Ireland. He is Programme Director for the Postgraduate Diploma in Further, Adult and Community Education (PDFACE). O’Brien sets the scene for critically examining Further Education and Training learners’ transition to university, discussing how ‘voice’ is central to the university’s mission and can deepen inclusion in the Higher Education community.

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Dr. Luan is a researcher and educator from China and one of three authors who collaborated on the Chinese chapter. She also shares the unique differences in Chinese higher education and culture that impact adult learners and their growth as learners. Lingfei has a background in educational psychology, and in this episode, she helps us better understand the perceptions of adult learners to better understand knowledge acquisition and memory in the learning process.

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Mr. Colin McGregor has had a long career in Adult Education. He recently retired as the Director of the peak body for Adult Education in New Zealand (NZ) - Adult and Community Education (ACE) Aotearoa. In this podcast episode, Colin shares his thoughts about NZ’s bi-cultural society and how we might learn from collaborations and partnerships across the world. In addition, he discusses the importance of policy and funding for ACE.

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Dr. Jan Schiller is a Helmut Schmidt University researcher with a background in sociology and educational philosophy. In this episode, he highlights Bildung's importance to adult education and lifelong learning. This chapter highlights the digital transformations critical to higher education and learning in later life.

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Dr. Shermaine Barrett has been involved in adult education for many years, including environmental education for community leaders in Jamaica. In this episode, she shares how adult learning is about preparing people for the world of work. As educators, we need to understand our learners and engage them with a holistic approach that develops the skills and competencies needed in the 21st century.

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In this podcast episode, Dr. Lisa Breitschwerdt shares her research on the professionalization of adult education at the University of Wurzburg. She loves being a researcher and learning in the international context. Her passion and transition into adult learning came from her study of pedagogy in Bavaria, and she wants to help others enjoy and understand the broad field of adult learning.

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Adult and Higher Education FutureTech

ChatGPT has abundant potential to become a unique transformational learning tool for adult learners throughout the life course. However, the initial reaction of educators to the emergence of ChatGPT has been mixed. In this episode, we explore ChatGPT as an AI powered education virtual assistant for Lifelong Learning. Join in the online forum to follow the discussion.