Presentation to Paper on Adult Education: Shaping the 21st Century Workforce

1. A. Flynn McCutchen, Jr.
April 27, 2009
HRD-880, Dr. S.
Bronack
Clemson University

2.  About the presenter:
 Earned my BS 19 years after HS graduation
 Completed over 60 hours of undergraduate education
via distance learning
 Have completed over 20 years of honorable service
in the U.S. military
 This topic hits home. The reason I did what I did
over 20 years ago.
 I hope that it provides you with the desire to learn
more about what goes on and possibly a career.

3.  Define Adult Education.
 Identify the Education Level
required by the 21st Century
workforce.
 Determine the feasibility of Adult
Education as a growing field.

5.  Wordnet defines Adult Education as a course, via
lectures or correspondence, for adults who are not
otherwise engaged in formal study.
 Wikipedia defines Adult Education as the practice of
teaching and educating adults. This often happens in
the workplace, through 'extension' or ‘continuing
education' courses at secondary schools, at a college or
university.
 Merriam-Webster’s defines Adult Education as
“Continuing Education.”

6. The learning experience of a person beyond
Secondary Education requirements. This
experience may include vocational, basic-
skills (including
literacy), apprenticeships, Diploma and
Certificate programs, Distance
Learning, Independent Learning, etc.

7.  Communication Skills, Decision-making Skills,
Interpersonal Skills, and Life-long Learning Skills
 40% of all US citizens participated in some sort of
work related formal education in the 12 month period
 58% also participated in some sort of informal
education.
 The central position is that the possession of expertise
is necessary to guarantee employability throughout the
career. Beatrice van der Heijden (2002) Pre-requisites to Guarantee
Life-long Employability

8.  Between 2006 and 2016, the following job increases are
expected to occur:
 Professional Degree – 14% increase
 Master’s Degree – 18.9% increase
 Bachelor’s Degree – 16.5% increase
 Vocational Certificate – 13.6% increase
 On-the –Job Training – average of 7% increase
Where do you want to be?
*Bureau of Labor and Statistics Employment and Job
openings.

9.  The labor market of the 21st Century will
demand educated workers who can create
and apply sophisticated new technologies.
Such workers will be rewarded handsomely.
Who is going to train this workforce?

10. With the use of Distance Learning, Computer Based
Training, etc. Numerous supporting positions are
available as well as in-class instructors.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics 2008-2009 Outlook
Handbook expects Teacher job opportunities are
expected to grow by 23% between now and 2016 (The
FASTEST growing occupation)

11.  ADULT EDUCATION is The learning experience of a
person beyond Secondary Education requirements.
This experience may include vocational, basic-skills
(including literacy), apprenticeships, Diploma and
Certificate programs, Distance Learning, Independent
Learning, etc.
 You need to continue your Post-Secondary education if
you wish to get the better paying jobs.
 Numerous job opportunities are available in Teaching
adults with the best outlook of ALL careers.

12.  Fretwell, David H. & Colombano, Joe E, (2000) Adult Continuing Education: An Integral
Part of Lifelong Learning. Emerging Policies and Programs for the 21st Century in Upper
and Middle Income Countries. World Bank Discussion Paper. World Bank, Washington,
D.C. Human Development Network.
 Stein, Sondra (2000) Equipped for the Future Content Standards. What Adults Need to
Know and Be Able To Do in the 21st Century. National Institution for Literacy,
Washington, D.C.
 Judy, Richard W. & D’Amico, Carol, (1997) Workforce 2020: Work and Workers in the 21st
Century. Hudson Institute, Indianapolis IN.
 Van der Heijden, Beatrice (2002). Pre-requisities to Guarantee Life-long Employability.
Personnel Review 31(1) PP 44-61
 The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) Occupational Projections and Training Data for
2008-2009 http://www.bls.gov/emp/optd/
 The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009
Edition http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos066.htm
 Stallings, Jane A. (1995). Ensuring Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century. Educational
Researcher, 24(6) PP 4-8.
 Neeley, Lynn; Niemi,John A.; and Ehrhard, Barbara J. (1998) Classes going the Distance
So People Don’t Have To: Instructional Opportunities for Adult Learners. The Journal
Technological Horizons in Education XX(X) PP X-X

13. Contact: A. Flynn McCutchen, Jr.
amccutc@clemson.edu