Educational Support through the Career Life-Span of Professional Working Adult Learners: An Integrative Theoretical and Experiential Reflection from the Learner's Perspective

摘要

Life-span career educational needs of professional working adult learners are premised on a self-perspective that is multi-faceted. At the lowest level are underlying foundational needs of motivation; this given there is an expected and desired outcome from an applied level of effort. As careers progress, there is an acute awareness of the remaining opportunities available for professional pursuit; this frequently is referred to as having "a short runway", and, is the underlying basis for pursuing educational opportunities correspondingly aligned. Aside from the many fleeting opportunities attendant to an aged career, there are numerous life phase motivators, as well as those attendant to biological, psychological and cognitive changes that have a direct impact on desire and/or willingness to exert energies toward educational pursuits. This paper frames the professional working adult learners' perspective and subsequent educational needs as they progress through their career life spans. Additionally, this paper addresses administrative organizations in meeting these many needs.