Overview
MAIS 644: Adult Education, Community Leadership, and Society examines adult education as both a reflective and transformative practice within democratic societies. Structured across five interconnected units, the course integrates historical, theoretical, practical, and prospective lenses to explore the interrelationship of adult education, community leadership, and contemporary democratic challenges. Students will engage with the foundational development of adult education in democratic contexts, critically evaluate diverse theories of adult learning and leadership, analyze the political and policy dimensions influencing the field, investigate the intersection between adult education and social justice movements, and envision future possibilities for adult education as a force for democratic renewal and social transformation.
This course recognizes the difficult social and political contexts that threaten democratic processes and systems, and therefore frames adult education as an essential part of addressing multiple social challenges. Some of these social challenges are genuine crises, while others represent the ongoing work of supporting, strengthening, and empowering individuals and communities in the pursuit of well-being. The term “society” is not a neutral term and is understood to be contested, fluid, and shaped by power.
MAIS 644 begins by situating adult education within its broader social context, exploring the historical milestones and philosophical foundations that have shaped the field. Students will discover how, both within Canada and globally, adult education has frequently emerged from grassroots initiatives, social reform movements, and efforts aimed at broadening civic participation. This foundational inquiry equips students to appreciate adult education as a nuanced interplay between individual empowerment and collective social progress.
Outline
MAIS 644 is consists of five units:
Unit 1: Foundations of Adult Education and Society
Unit 2: Theoretical Perspectives of Adult Learning and Community Leadership
Unit 3: Adult Education in Policy and Politics
Unit 4: Adult Education for Social Justice and Democratic Engagement
Unit 5: The Future of Adult Education and Society
Learning outcomes
MAIS 644 has four major learning outcomes. After completing this course, you should be able to:
- Analyze the connections between the theoretical perspectives in adult education and community leadership, applying them to diverse educational and leadership contexts.
- Critically engage in dialogue with colleagues and practitioners, using social and educational theory to evaluate and respond to complex social challenges.
- Articulate new and emerging perspectives on pressing social issues relevant to adult education, community leadership, and their contributions to the health of democratic society.
- Demonstrate informed, self-critical reflection by articulating a personal philosophy and approach to leadership within adult education and community settings.
Evaluation
To receive credit for this course, students must participate in the online activities, successfully complete the assignments, and achieve an overall grade of at least C– (60 percent) for the course.
Students should be familiar with the Master of Arts—Interdisciplinary Studies grading system. Please note that it is the students’ responsibility to maintain their program status. Any student who receives a grade of “F” in one course, or a grade of “C” in more than one course, might be required to withdraw from the program.
You will be evaluated on your understanding of the concepts presented in the course and on your ability to apply those concepts. Your final grade in the course will be based on the marks achieved for the following activities.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Situated Narrative | 10% |
| Assignment 2: Literature Review | 25% |
| Assignment 3: Structured Academic Controversy | 20% |
| Assignment 4: Critical Reflective and Personal Position Paper | 35% |
| Participation in Online Discussions | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Rocco, T. S., Smith, M. C., Mizzi, R. C., Merriweather, L. R., & Hawley, J. D. (eds.). (2021). The handbook of adult and continuing education (2020 ed.). Routledge.
All other resources are available online.