About This Profession
Adult education supports others in their pursuit and passion for lifelong learning across a wide range of learning outcomes, including adult basic education, skills training, professional development, language learning, technology training, and continuing and higher education. Career opportunities for adult educators encompass a broad spectrum of environments in education and health professions, creative and performance arts, business, journalism, corrections, social work and the military. Adult educators may work in the field of social justice supporting and serving culturally and linguistically diverse community members and organizations in local, regional, national and/or international contexts.
Adult educators can be found working in informal, non-formal, and formal contexts. Adult education can be planned or unplanned, as learning can occur in “formal classrooms, living rooms, community halls, libraries, gardens, senior homes, wi’kuoms, hospitals, farms, faith centres, on the streets and sidewalks, on fishing boats, around campfires, and in all manner of workplaces, relaying on various forms of technology, resources, materials, pedagogical strategies, and knowledge bases”. (Brigham, et al., 2021, p. x)
A Snapshot of Adult Education Experience
Key Duties
Key duties of an adult educator depend very much on context given adult education occurs face-to-face in the classroom, online utilizing various technologies, or via hybrid or blended learning, and in workplace environments. Key duties may include:
- Building meaningful relationships with learners.
- Understanding individual student’s strengths and needs
- Program and curriculum design and delivery
- Understanding the contexts and learning objectives of learners
- Designing and developing meaningful learning opportunities
- Undertaking evaluation and assessment of learning
- Teaching academic subjects, vocational or apprenticeship trades and skills
- Conducting professional development or workplace training
- Communicating and collaborating effectively with colleagues, administrators and management
- Upgrading and updating subject-related, andragogical, pedagogical and methodological knowledge and skills
- Undertaking research
- Familiarity with financial and/or human resource management and administration, budget, resource allocation and funding opportunities
- Principle-based leadership, negotiation, mediation, conflict management and dispute resolution
Critical Skills
Hard Skills
- Critical analysis and reflection
- Knowledge and understanding of andragogy, pedagogy, methodology, evaluation and assessment
- Knowledge and understanding of subject specialization
- Applied learning and experience in distance education utilizing digital technologies
Soft Skills
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Self-care
- Teamwork
- Negotiation and mediation
- Problem solving
- Social and emotional intelligence
- Intercultural competence
- Organizational skills
- Planning skills
- Observational skills
- Administrative experience
- Creativity
- Work independently
Traits
- Humility
- Compassion and caring
- Patience
- Enthusiasm
- Integrity
- Honesty
- Respectful
- Dependability
- Self-motivated
- Able to inspire others
- Resourceful
Work Environment
The field of Adult Education is very diverse and, so too, are the work environments. The possibilities are truly endless, with the work environment depending on each person’s career path. Working conditions may vary as well and may include full-time, part-time, contract work, with a variety of schedules and combining virtual, on-site, and hybrid delivery.
Work Environments Examples
- School boards
- Colleges and universities
- Trade and Technical schools
- Local governments
- Private companies
- Corrections
- Community Centres
- Non-Profit organizations
- Newcomer Centers
- Indigenous Communities
- Military
- Care Facility
- Training Centres
Job Title Examples
- Lecturer
- Facilitator
- Corporate Trainer
- Curriculum Specialist
- Elementary School /Middle School/ High School Teacher
- English-as-a-Second Language Teacher
- Second-Language Instructor
- University Professor or College Instructor
- Special Education Teacher
- Indigenous Educator
- Learning and Development Specialist
- Continuing Education Instructor
Professional Certifications/Licenses
- Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education
- The Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators
- Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE)
- Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE)
- Canadian Society for the Study of Indigenous Education (CASIE)
The average salary information: “The median annual Curriculum Specialist salary in Canada is C$73,671, as of August 27, 2021, with a range usually between C$68,052-C$83,142, Salary may vary depending on a number of factors including industry, company size, location, years of experience and level of education” (Salary.com reference).
Yorkville University’s Programs Recognized in the field of Adult Education
Job Search Tips - Where to Focus Your Time
Building Professional Relationships (80%)
- Connect with industry experts and expand your professional network
- Gain experience by volunteering/ shadowing other adult educators
- Join professional associations, find one in your region
- Join LinkedIn groups and Meetup groups
- Attend conferences and events
- Find a mentor
Online Activities (20%)
- Build a strong resume and cover letter targeted to each job you apply for - Ask your YU Career Advisor for assistance!
- Create a strong LinkedIn profile and use the job board
- Subscribe to or search job boards such as Monster, Workopolis, Job Bank Canada, Indeed, Glassdoor
- Visit career pages of organizations that interest you the most and check for new job openings
Reference
Brigham, S. M., McGray, R., & Jubas, K. (2021). Introduction: Adult education and lifelong learning in Canada. In S. M. Brigham, R. McGray, & K. Jubas (Eds.), Adult education and lifelong learning in Canada: Advancing a critical legacy (pp. x-xvii). Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc & the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education.
