Becoming Adult Learners: Principles and Practice for Effective Development

This book offers a new and promising way to support adults in Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) programs specifically, and learners in adult education in general. Applying renowned Harvard University psychologist Robert Kegan’s constructive-developmental theory, Drago-Severson depicts an in-depth investigation into how and why adults develop “ways of knowing” to better prepare them for their work in the 21st century. This book provides practical suggestions for applying Kegan’s theory in adult education classrooms that will enable teachers, curriculum developers, program designers, and policymakers to better respond to adult learners’ strengths and learning needs.

Eleanor Drago-Severson is a lecturer on education at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where she conducts research into and teaches courses on leadership for adult development and qualitative research methods.