Faithin Omaha eBook Collection

Download or read book Ojibwe Women as Adult Learners in a Teacher Education Program, Towards an Understanding of Aboriginal Women's Experiences of Learning and Change written by Kathryn M. Freeman and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Existing literature in adult education pays scant attention to the experience of Aboriginal adult learners, especially those who are women. Further, while more Aboriginal teachers are needed, and the majority of Aboriginal teacher education students are women, almost no research has been conducted with this student population. The purpose of this study is to better understand the experience of Ojibwe women as adult learners in a program of teacher education. The study explored the experience of eight voluntary participants ranging in age from twenty-nine to fifty-one years of age nearing completion of a two year university program in Aboriginal teacher education. Participants' motivations, expectations, characteristics, interaction, experiences in the program, and goals upon completion were examined. A qualitative approach was employed in gathering data. There were four parts to the study: in-depth interviews with participants; follow-up interviews after individuals had received transcripts of the first interview; a demographic questionnaire; and field notes. Interviews, which yielded more than four hundred typed pages, formed the main part of the study. The emergent research design generated findings which were sorted into four main themes: relationships with others as an Aboriginal teacher education student; survival and success as an Aboriginal learner, personal change during the teacher education program; and "I am an Ojibwe woman." Findings were reported primarily in participants' own words and discussed in relation to theories on adult learning, adult development and Aboriginal education. Interpersonal, community and cultural connections were important to all participants and significantly influenced their educational endeavours. Participants demonstrated cultural continuity and a sense of social responsibility in their activities and concerns as teachers-in-preparation. Program features and other factors which supported or hindered participants in completing their program were identified and discussed. The study explored aspects of personal change and raised ethical issues regarding the appropriateness of conducting research in the area of Aboriginal adult development, concluding that a far deeper and broader research effort would be necessary, and one conducted from the perspective of a cultural 'insider' to achieve legitimacy. Conclusions which have implications for research and program planning in Aboriginal education and questions for further investigation were identified.