"This Group Is Vital": Adult Peers in Community for Support and Learning. Issue 2 (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cherrstrom, Catherine A.; Zarestky, Jill; Deer, Shannon
• Is Part Of: Adult learning. Volume 29:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 43
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: adult learners -- graduate students -- zone of proximal development -- communities of practice -- peer mentoring; Adult education -- Periodicals; Teaching -- Periodicals; 374.005
• DOI: 10.1177/1045159517739701
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-1595

Abstract

Adult learners often experience uncertainty, isolation, and, in graduate school, angst about meeting program requirements. Therefore, graduate students created and facilitated a seminar series and preliminary examination study group. The experience, however, transcended seminars and study meetings to build relevant and meaningful community. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine adult peers in community for support and learning. Major findings included participants built community for support and learning, using programming as foundation for building a community of practice (CoP), with peer mentoring playing a major role. The findings also feature participant voices and share programming ideas for adult learners and educators.