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2019 Annual Conference

October 8–11, 2019

St. Louis, MO

“We are going to keep the American Dream going:” A Refugee’s Journey through Self-Directed Learning

Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at 8:55 AM–9:35 AM CDT
Park View (Rounds of 10)
Select the FIRST area in which your presentation best fits.

Community, Minority, and Non-Formal Education

Presentation Format Requested

Roundtable (45 minutes)

Session Abstract
As the field of adult and continuing education becomes more global, practitioners in the field need to be able to facilitate inclusive learning environments which consider the unique perspectives of multicultural and refugee learners. How might instructional methods evolve when considering the self-direction of refugee adults?
Target Audience
Since this study will focus on self-directed learning, GRIT, resilience, and economic empowerment, the target audience includes adult educators, higher education administrators, college students, and community practitioners.
Learning Outcomes

After participating in this conference session, the participants will be able to: better understand the experience of refugee adults’ resettlement process and refugee experiences during cultural and social acclimation to U.S. social and economic structures; identify strategies to help refugee adults succeed in an inclusive learning environment; understand the importance of self-directed learning within a multicultural context; and consider instructional methods to facilitate economic empowerment.

Session Description
Building from a foundation of relevant literature, the purpose of this presentation is explore the journey of a Syrian refugee family as they established a successful small business in Knoxville, Tennessee. By better understanding the lived experience of refugees, educators and community practitioners should be better informed to negotiate change to serve the needs of students (Perry & Mallozzi, 2011; Phan, 2018). This research not only contributes to higher education, but more specifically to adult education and learning practitioners and professionals, community developers, and entrepreneurship educators. Through this interactive presentation, educators will be able to make more informed decisions about how to plan curriculum, support services, and programs to enhance the learning environment for refugee students. By understanding their experiences, adult educators and community members can better mediate the impact of marginalization of refugee adults. The research questions that will guide this presentation are: How do refugee families negotiate the resettlement process and build upon prior life experiences? How might refugees’ experiences impact the resettlement city? The incorporation and appreciation of self-directed learning processes will be the lens for this presentation.
Format & Technique
Given that the goal for this research presentation is to facilitate the development of new strategies in praxis, the session will be interactive with a PowerPoint, discussion, and activities.

Primary Presenter

Patricia Higgins, The University of Tennessee/Pellissippi State Community College
Work Title

Additional Presenters

Holley Marie Linkous, University of Tennessee Knoxville
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