Navigating the AI Frontier in Adult Education

The authors take an illuminating exploration of the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in Adult education and training, by drawing from a comprehensive international survey.

This groundbreaking project delves into the current landscape and future trends surrounding adult educators’ practices and perceptions of AI technologies. It offers a rich, data-driven analysis of how AI is shaping the field, providing valuable insights into its impact on educators, learners, and educational institutions across the globe. The book synthesizes findings from an extensive online survey conducted across 19 countries, encompassing a diverse range of adult educators. The research focuses on current practices, examining the types, frequency, and purposes of AI applications in adult education and training. It assesses how different AI tools and technologies are currently employed and their roles in various educational contexts. It also looks at educators’ confidence levels in using AI, exploring factors that contribute to or detract from their comfort and proficiency with these technologies. The chapters offer an analysis of the perceived effects of AI on adult educators’ roles, workloads, income, labour markets, and work opportunities. Finally the book turns to the impacts on learner and educator wellbeing, including the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI, especially in terms of the adult learner engagement, learning outcomes, and overall wellness.

Offering a unique insight into the benefits, challenges and support needs associated with AI use, and effectively integrating AI into practice, this book will serve as a pivotal resource for educational leaders, teaching and research staff, in adult learning and higher education institutions.

Chen Zan is Principal Research and Senior Lecturer in the Research Division of the Institute for Adult learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore.

Leslie Cordie is Associate Professor in the College of Education at Auburn University, USA.

Hannes Schroeter is Head of Department in the Teaching, Learning and Counselling Division of the German Institute for Adult Education, Germany.

Xiaodong Zeng is Professor in the Faculty of Education at Beijing Normal University, China.