Beyond one-size-fits-all: Collaboration key to tackling challenges of adult learning
Global experts share latest trends on adult learning at the Adult Learning Xchange 2024
For adult learning, there is no one way that fits all or one expert who knows everything.
In today's rapidly changing, disruptive world, it has to be adaptive, collaborative and with content ahead of the curve.
Adult learners typically come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, with ages ranging from 25 to 75.
How can educators best deliver the same content to such a diverse audience and ensure they progress effectively at their own pace?
A conventionally didactic model, where there is a one-way transmission of knowledge from teacher to students, is inadequate, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing.
He was speaking at the Adult Learning Xchange (ALX) 2024 organised by the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL). Mr Chan highlighted the challenges of adult learning and the importance of addressing them through a collaborative effort.
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What we need is an "adaptive learning system" where learners can access materials suited to their levels, he said. This involves challenging stronger learners, assisting weaker learners to catch up, and progressing them to the next level upon reaching that milestone.
The process mirrors the structure found in games. "You play games and master one level, you go up to the next level," he explained.
IAL is an autonomous institute of the Singapore University of Social Sciences. It was designated by the Ministry of Education as the National Centre of Excellence for Adult Learning in 2022.
Held on Jan 18 and 19 at the Raffles City Convention Centre, ALX 2024 was themed "Our learning futures: Learn fast, learn wide, learn well". The event brought together over 500 industry experts and participants to explore the latest trends in adult learning, and answer the key question: How do we create an effective adult learning model?
More on adult learning and upskilling
- Skills in areas such as the digital economy, providing care, and Industry 4.0 will experience high demand and become more transferable in the next two years, a SkillsFuture Singapore report published in November 2023 said.
- Singapore plans to step up investments in adult education and training, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. This includes SkillsFuture Credit top-ups for mid-career workers, as well as training allowances for mid-career workers attending full-time, longer courses.
For one, learning institutes need to ensure content can be delivered "at speed and just-in-time", Mr Chan said.
But it typically takes more than a year to sense market demands, curate content, find experts and train the trainers before training the trainees. By then, the demand has passed and the content is outdated.
What's lacking? A much "faster sensing mechanism that can tell us the demand of new skill sets ahead of time", he said.
This will require the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), private education providers, unions, economic policymakers and companies to work together and pool their expertise as stakeholders to create the most forward-looking content with the best teaching methods.
“The holy grail of adult learning has always been bite-sized modules, accessible to people, anytime, anywhere and if possible, any subject that they want. This requires us to build up a body of knowledge, to have a community of practices to come together to design those modules.”
Space for enhanced adult collaborative learning
The Adult Learning Collaboratory (ALC) - the first of its kind in Singapore - was launched by IAL on Jan 19 and announced by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing.
Its intent: To provide the space for enhanced collaboration within the training and adult education sector.
ALC is supported by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), the statutory board in charge of skills upgrading. ALC will work closely with 40 partners - including researchers, training providers and industry players - to address key challenges in adult learning through innovative solutions.
"One of ALC's first projects will look at how mid-career and mature workers can respond meaningfully to the disruptions in AI technologies," Mr Chan said.
In the second half of 2024, a 3,500 sq ft physical facility for the ALC will be established within the Lifelong Learning Institute in Eunos Road. Roughly the size of three five-room Housing Board flats, this facility will serve as a space for demonstrations, showcases, and local and international engagements in adult learning.
"In its national role as the centre of excellence in adult learning, the IAL will need to be a driving force in three key areas," said Mr Tan Kok Yam, chief executive of SSG and chairman of the IAL Council, in his opening address at the ALX 2024.
They are:
- Continually raising the quality of adult educators in Singapore;
- Advancing research in adult learning, and;
- Engaging with individuals and companies through meaningful collaborations and thought leadership.
Acknowledging that IAL will "obviously fail if it tries to do this on its own", Mr Tan stressed that the institute's most urgent task is to "anchor and grow a network of national expertise and capabilities in adult learning".
Through the ALC, industry partners can leverage IAL's body of research and engage in a dynamic process of testing, experimentation, and iteration to refine adult learning solutions for real-world settings.
"We have never had a platform where multiple stakeholders can come together to discuss," said Associate Professor Yeo Li Pheow, IAL's executive director.
By bringing together different stakeholders and creating a platform for dialogue and the exchange of ideas, the ALC will enable the formation of faster solutions to challenges of adult learning, Prof Yeo added.
What is ALX 2024?
Themed "Our learning futures: Learn fast, learn wide, learn well", the Adult Learning Xchange (ALX) 2024 was held from Jan 18 to 19 at the Raffles City Convention Centre.
The conference, organised by the IAL, was first launched in 2008. Back then, it was called the Adult Learning Symposium.
The two-day conference brings together global training and adult education industry experts to shed light on the latest trends and insights on the evolving landscape of adult learning.
Attendees at ALX 2024 had the chance to embark on learning journeys to Centres of Excellence hosted by government agencies, IHLs, and industry-leading companies.
These locations include the Singapore Supreme Court, Sembcorp Tengah Floating Solar Farm, and Mandai Wildlife Reserve. On these tours, attendees gained insights on how these organisations made use of cutting-edge technologies for innovation and put in place dynamic workplace learning cultures.
One popular location for the learning journey was the Amazon Singapore Fulfilment Centre. Participants explored the 170,000 sq ft space in Toh Guan, where they learnt about the different aspects of Amazon's e-commerce supply chain, the diverse range of jobs at the fulfilment centre, and the company's workplace learning initiatives.
"We offer a wide range of opportunities to support our people at every stage of their career," said Mr Vasantharaj Bharathi, head of operations at Amazon Singapore.
"Our training mechanism encourages associates to move across our operations facilities to learn about process paths. By providing opportunities for personal growth and development, we create an environment where every team member can reach their full potential."
This was produced in partnership with the Institute for Adult Learning.
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