2016 Annual Conference

This session will focus on historical foundations of adult and distance education and on contemporary figures that pioneered the field of distance education. Discussion of key theorists (e.g. Charles A. Wedemeyer (University of Wisconsin) Otto Peters (Germany) and Börge Holmberg (Sweden) and others) provide a context for online education today.

Anyone interested in and involved in adult education and online education should enjoy and benefit from learning about the foundations of adult and distance education and the work of pioneers in providing educational access to nontraditional learners. The session should also be of benefit to those interested in conducting and/or exploring opportunities in historical research in both adult and distance education.

Adult and Distance Educators continuously create new knowledge through research and through the use of new technologies which enable them to provide increasing access to adults who fall into the category of nontraditional students. These unending and forward looking efforts provide little time to research and appreciate the efforts of their colleagues who have built the foundation upon which current adult educators now stand upon. This session provides an opportunity for conference attendees to reflect and to appreciate the work of those who have played key roles in the evolution of our field. There is also limited research in the history of adult and distance education, and this session will provide insights into the value historical research.