Veteran Students as Adult Learners in Transition: Learning from a New Perspective Pedagogy vs Andragogy
Session Abstract
This qualitative study explores the experiences of veterans, transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce while utilizing higher education as a tool. Emphasis is placed on the difference in the learning environment of the military compared to higher education and how this difference can influence the learning process.
Target Audience
The target audience for this session are: Veterans, Military Personnel, Faculty and Staff in Higher Education, Graduate Students, Adult Educators, Human Resource Development Practitioners.
Session Description
The transition of veterans from the military to the civilian workforce has prompted much discussion and research within the fields of adult education, workforce education, human resource development, and career development and transition. However, there is limited research that hones in on the learning environment within the military compared to higher education and how this transition can influence the learning process of veterans as adult learners. On this premise, this qualitative study explores the experiences of veterans, who are transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce and utilizing higher education as a tool. Emphasis is placed on the difference in the learning environment of the military, guided by the behaviorism theory and pedagogical approach, compared to the adult learning environment in higher education which is more humanistic and guided by principles of andragogy and how this transition influence the learning process of veterans as adult learners.