Publication: Adult Education for Native Americans

• Imel, Susan

In recent years, adult education for Native Americans has
reflected broader goals and has been concerned with playing
a role in preserving native language and culture rather than
encouraging assimilation. These four trends appear in the
literature related to adult education for Native Americans:
how adult education theories and methods such as
transformative learning, use of narrative, and
self-directed learning apply; identifying and acknowledging
learning styles of Native American adults; approaches to
conducting research with Native Americans in their
communities; and identifying strategies for helping Native
American adults achieve success in postsecondary and higher
education. The diffuse nature of the literature on adult
education for Native Americans is a serious issue. The
literature base lacks depth; no strands of research and
theory building can be detected; the literature does not
seem to build on itself; and the topics of race and culture
with regard to Native Americans have received insufficient
attention. (Contains 21 resources that reflect the diffuse
nature of the literature on adult education for Native
Americans.) (YLB)