Skip to main content
logo

2013 Annual Conference

November 5–8, 2013

Lexington, KY

It is time to review the schedule for the placement of your session in the AAACE Agenda. This is the final draft of the Schedule. When you look up your name, use the detail listing to check what days/times you asked to be placed. This is a huge program and we can accommodate necessary changes in day and time now, but may not be able to do so after September 1, 2013 except in emergencies. Please carefully check your placement and send any requests to Ginger Phillips, AAACE Conference Planner with AAACE Session Change Request in the subject line. We will respond to your email, but it may take us up to a week to do so. Thanks for your help in "fine tuning" this agenda!

Virtually Connected: Considering the Demands of Virtual Learning from a Constructive-Developmental Perspective

Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 8:00 AM–8:45 AM EST
Regency3
Type of Presentation

Shared

Session Abstract

This session offers a constructive-developmental perspective on the demands adults face in a virtual learning context and considerations for cultivating virtual holding environments that support and challenge adult learners.

Target Audience

Practitioners, scholars, students, and co-inquirers of adult development, adult learning, and online learning who are curious about higher education in the technological age and interested in fostering adult development and growth within a virtual learning environment.

Learning Outcomes

After this session, participants will be able to: 1) discuss the literature addressing epistemological and ontological challenges adults face while learning in a virtual context, 2) describe the core tenets of constructive-developmental theory and how the theory may shed light on adults’ online learning experiences, and 3) consider potential ways educators may support and challenge adults in the virtual learning environment.

Session Description

This session will offer a constructive-developmental perspective on the demands that are placed on adults participating in virtual, structured, educative spaces. Presenters will situate the topic of online learning in higher education within the broader field of adult education and discuss why this is a critical and exigent issue in the field. Presenters will briefly review the current literature on the epistemological and ontological challenges of learning in a virtual context and then move to discussion of Robert Kegan’s constructive-developmental theory. Presenters will explore how this theory of adult development may shine a light on the current dissonance between adults’ experiences and capacities within the virtual learning environment. Finally, presenters will offer considerations and encourage ideas from session participants for cultivating virtual educative spaces that both support and challenge adult learners.

Efforts are made to try to schedule sessions on the day preferred by the Primary Presenter, though this cannot be guaranteed. Please check your preference.

Thursday November 7

Primary Presenter

Alexandra Cox, University of Georgia, Program in Adult Education, Learning, and Organization Development
Work Title

Graduate Student

Additional Presenters: Enters In Order.

Aliki Nicolaides, University of Georgia, College of Education, Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy
Work Title

Assistant Professor

Loading…