ENHANCING ADULT LEARNING IN AGING STUDIES

Abstract

The legacy of social work/gerontology education arises from the "training" of good employees for a particular job. As the professionalization of the occupation occurred, a greater proportion of faculty encouraged social work students to become partners in the learning process, rather than subjects to be trained. However, adult learning in formal settings, for the most part, remains instructor designed and directed. With a grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation in New York City, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is preparing social work education for the aging of American society. It is therefore, an opportune time to recognize that it is not only what we teach but also how we make the educational environment for adults more learner-centered that will broaden the agenda of the CSWE initiative.