Description

Assignment 2: Analysis of Adult Learning in Canada

1. Read Too many left behind: Canada's adult education and training system (Myers & de Broucker, 2006)
2. Select one of the following two questions and answer it using two tools of analysis: a) to compare, which means to express similarities (The Canadian Oxford Dictionary, 2004), and b) to contrast, which means to show differences (The Canadian Oxford Dictionary, 2004). Provide a brief introduction and conclusion along with your analysis. As part of your conclusion, express a broad opinion about the state of adult education in contemporary Canada. Your assignment should be 400-600 words long, and follow APA style (5th or 6th ed.). Please provide a reference list on a separate page. Please see the exercise rubric below for detailed instructions.

Question One: What barriers and gaps affect learners and employers when educationally disadvantaged adults try to improve their labour market situation by pursuing more education and training?

OR

Question Two: Who participates in "second chance" post secondary adult education in Canada and what barriers and gaps affect their learning?

1. For your information, view A place all my own. (Adult Learning Knowledge Centre and the Skills LINK Program, Inuvik Youth Centre, 2009) Youtube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afC2VEz9-QQ

Reference

Compare and Contrast (2004). The Canadian Oxford Dictionary. Retrieved April 18, 2012 from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/dictionary.

Learning Objectives

After reading/viewing the learning activities and completing Assignment 2, the Analysis of Adult Learning in Canada, you should be able to:

1. Compare barriers and gaps that have affected adult education across Canada over approximately ten years.

2. Contrast that barriers and gaps have affected adult education across Canada over approximately ten years.

3. Express a broad conclusion about the state of adult education in contemporary Canada.

Overview:

In pages 67-78 of Merriam, Caffarella and Baumgartner's (2007) textbook Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide, the authors provide an international perspective on some of the barriers and gaps that affect adult learners participation in education (in the section Adding a Sociological Lens to Explanations of Participation). Barriers and gaps influence Canadians’ participation in adult education as well. Myers and de Broucker (2006) discuss how adult education is developed and delivered in several provinces in their report, entitled Too many left behind: Canada's adult education and training system. Reading and analyzing this report will offer you an opportunity to consider the similarities and variations in social, economic and educational policy across Canada that may encourage and/or limit how Canadian adults engage in continuous learning throughout their lives. The Youtube video A place all my own (2009) allows you to make connections between adult learning as government policy and the impact of literacy education on some young adults. The video link is provided for your information, and is not included in the Analysis of Adult Learning in Canada assignment.

Components of the Assignment:

You will write a short (400-600 words, double spaced, 12 font, 1 margins) document, which includes an introduction and a conclusion. Create your document in a word processing program (eg. Word), and use the word count tool to calculate how long your assignment is. Include a word count in your assignment text. Provide paraphrases, specific citations and a reference list using APA (5th or 6th ed.) style. Your citations should include page numbers showing where you have quoted the authors of the report. If the text cited has no page numbers please use the following format: According to Danny (1997), ... (Paper over Scissors section, para. 6). You will submit this assignment in the Assignment 2 Drop Box of the course website. This assignment is worth 15% of your total grade. Please review the rubric below.