Access and Participation by Ginsberg and Wlodkowski - Research Paper Example

Examination of these numbers from the microscope of these elements increases challenges. Attainment of education has been the most difficult for the poor. In the last 6 years, no more than 8 percent and 7 percent of the poor have attained an associate degree and a bachelor's degree respectively. This article by Ginsberg and Wlodkowski (n.d.) tends to determine the population that generally participates in adult education, explore the concept of adult participation, the individual and institution-specific factors which can increase the adult participation in learning, and the means to ensure greater and equitable participation.

The authors started the discussion with the definitions of such terms as adult basic education, access, persistence, formal, informal, nonformal learning, and workplace learning so that the audience may perceive the discussion with respect to their understanding of the respective terms. The researchers found that the least earning adults with the least formal education were least participative in adult education programs while workers aged between 45 and 54 years were the greatest participants of the formal and nonformal education programs. Hispanic adults that did not complete high school were found least likely to participate in formal learning programs in the workplace. The researchers referred to the Cross’s chain of response model and Boshier’s Education Participation Scale (EPS) for understanding the concept of adult participation.

According to Ginsberg and Wlodkowski (n.d., p. 29), the biggest driving factor behind the formal, nonformal, and informal access to learning in the workplace is online education. Universities can play their part in increasing the enrollment rate of adults by making enrollment policies more liberal. The government has taken an important step for increasing the adult enrollment rate by obviating the need for colleges to offer half of the courses face-to-face in order to be eligible for federal student aid. Community colleges have conventionally been very helpful and the fundamental means of education for poor adults, students of color, and of low achievement. This is because of the developmental education programs offered in the community colleges which provide the students with remedial education. Prior learning assessment (PLA), accelerate and intensive formats of learning, transition to post-secondary education, and the supportive practices for entrance and participation into services, and re-engagement with learning as identified in the study conducted by the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) are the potential ways of increasing the adult participation in education.