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Drawing on theories from transcultural theory, I examined Chinese immigrant mothers' transcultural perspectives on mothering and learning. Recent adult educational studies contain limited research on the effects of cultural influence on mothering and learning by immigrant mothers from their perspective. Based on 30 semi-structured interviews among Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada, this study revealed there are not only interactions between the fluid cultural values and the understanding of mothering and learning by immigrant mothers, but also race, gender, and class relations behind Chinese immigrant mothers' mothering and learning practice. This paper contributes to a better understanding of cultural influence on Chinese immigrant mothers' learning and mothering practice. The findings help foster adult educational programs for immigrant mothers in multicultural societies. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

Classroom instruction in China and in the United States have sharp differences. Typically, constructivist learning theory shapes American classroom instruction whereas Confucian educational culture shapes Chinese classroom instruction. Furthermore, typically, Chinese classrooms adopt a direct instructional approach whereas American classrooms adopt an indirect instructional approach. Awareness of such differences in classroom instruction informs educators of the educational backgrounds of students coming from different educational environments and cultures, enabling educators to better serve different student populations. Additionally, it is worth noting that educational culture worldwide is converging as indicated by world culture theory. This paper presents different classroom instruction in China and the U.S., and inspires educators to learn from the differences, reflect on their own instruction, and eventually innovate and improve their instruction. [For the full proceedings, see ED628982.]

In this paper we will share successful teaching techniques for creating effective learning experiences for adult learners in an international context. We studied the experiences of two groups of Chinese undergraduate students from public health and nursing in short-term study abroad programs in the United States. We used the experiential learning theory described by Kolb (1984) to understand which teaching and learning strategies were considered meaningful by Chinese undergraduate students. We found that they preferred activities which involved opportunities for building relationships with American colleagues such as community engagement, shadowing, and learning English language. They considered lectures about public health topics informative but less meaningful as compared to more interactive and hands-on learning activities. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

Older adults' participation in the University for the Third Age (U3A) positively influences their physical and emotional well-being and thus increases their quality of life. However, the number of the elderly participating in the U3A has remained low in China, especially in rural areas. This study explored the factors influencing older adults' attendance in a U3A in Guangxi Province, one of the less-developed provinces in China. Results indicated that factors impact participation associated with gender, overall life quality, general health, daily life activities, self-esteem, and social relationships in the U3A. This study provides a new understanding of Chinese older adults' learning in U3A in rural provinces and may help countries with similar situations. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

Internationalization has become a substantial part of higher education worldwide, especially in the U.S. Moreover, Chinese students make up the largest portion of the U.S.'s international higher education students. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a disruption in higher education, especially posing considerable challenges to international students. Given the emphasis of international higher education in the U.S. and the prominence of Chinese international students in this country, as well as the sparsity of research outside large cities, this study sought to examine particular challenges posed to Chinese international students studying at universities in smaller cities in the U.S. Results indicate that this group of students experienced a myriad of hardships and challenges during the pandemic. Understanding these effects can inform international higher education programs perhaps worldwide, ultimately improving such programs to better manage crises, but also to improve normal practice. [For the full proceedings, see ED628982.]

The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. These "Proceedings" are from the Commission of International Adult Education's (CIAE) 2022 International Pre-Conference. This year's "Proceedings" contain 12 papers from 18 authors, representing CIAE's usual diversity of authors and topics. Researcher and research sites include Canada, China, Ghana, Italy, Nigeria, and the United States. A major theme continuing from the 2021 conference is the impact of COVID-19 on learners in a variety of settings, including teacher training, adult basic education, and higher education. A second major theme concerns cross-cultural learning, including among migrants and in higher education. Some papers address adult learning experiences in myriad social contexts, such as learning for democracy, aging, military, and spiritual learning. A special feature at this year's Pre-Conference is a focus on CONFINTEA VII and the Marrakech Framework for Action. A panel and discussion session on these important endeavors are part of the Pre-Conference Agenda, with key documents provided in the 2022 Proceedings. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada and the US overcoming the challenges through adult learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transformative learning theory is utilized as a theoretical framework. Transformative learning, as an important component of adult learning theory, emphasizes the expansion of consciousness through which an individual can critically reflect on their personal experiences and feelings (Mezirow, 2009). Based on this theoretical framework, we aim to understand how Chinese immigrant mothers as adult learners experience the pandemic and learn mothering during these uncertainties and at the same time, reorient their self-consciousness and self-directed learning skills in the new normal. Adopting qualitative research, we have conducted 50 semi-structured interviews among Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada and United States. This study reveals that Chinese immigrant mothers are increasingly marginalized as a result of the global pandemic and capitalism, which accelerate their motivations for enhancing their self-consciousness and self-directed learning. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

This study was designed to initiate the process of building professional development learning communities for pre-service math teachers through revealing those teachers' conceptions/beliefs of students' learning and their own learning in China. It examines Chinese pre-service math teachers' conceptions of student learning and their related pedagogical beliefs with respect to the following four aspects: self-regulation, construction of knowledge, the social nature of learning, and a dynamic view of ability. A total of 129 middle-school and secondary pre-service math teachers from China participated in this study. The results indicated that the Chinese pre-service teachers' conceptions of student learning and their pedagogical beliefs are constructive, process-oriented, and progressive. In addition, the traditional Chinese socio-cultural values still have an impact on the pre-service teachers' conceptions of student learning. Implications and recommendations for designing meaningful and effective teacher professional development programs that not only incorporate teachers' beliefs of student learning but also are aligned with Chinese mathematics education reform are also discussed. [For the full proceedings, see ED581791.]

The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. The following purposes summarize the work of the Commission: (1) To develop linkages with adult education associations in other countries; (2) To encourage exchanges between AAACE and associations from other countries; (3) To invite conference participation and presentations by interested adult educators around the world; and (4) To discuss how adult educators from AAACE and other nations may cooperate on projects of mutual interest and benefit to those served. The Commission holds its annual meeting in conjunction with the AAACE conference. The following papers are presented at the 2012 CIAE Pre-Conference: (1) Religious Rites and Celebrations As Frameworks for Lifelong Learning in Traditional Africa (Mejai B.M. Avoseh); (2) A Confucian Model for Scholarly Development (Elizabeth Anne Erichsen and Qi Sun); (3) The Use of Learning the Contract Within a University Setting in an Italian University (Monica Fedeli, Ettore Felisatti, and Mario Giampaolo); (4) The Cross-Culture Readiness Exposure Scale (CRES) (Emmanuel Jean Francois); (5) International History and Philosophy of Andragogy: Abbreviated for 2012 with Newer Perspective and Insights (John A. Henschke); (6) Exploring Cross-Cultural Learning Styles Differences of African and American Adult Learners (Alex Kumi-Yeboah and Waynne James); (7) An Educational Preparatory Program for Active Aging: Preliminary Results Based on Proactive Coping Theory (Ya-Hui Lee, Hui-Chuan Wei, Yu Fen Hsiao, Liang-Yi Chang, and Chen-Yi Yu); (8) Global Work Competencies and the Identification and Selection of Candidates for Expatriate Assignments (Arthur Ray McCrory); (9) Adult Education/Learning in South Africa: Promises and Challenges (Matata Johannes Mokoele); (10) Cross-Cultural Use of Surveys and Instruments in International Research: Lessons Learned From A Study in Turkey and the United States (Claudette M. Peterson, Anita Welch, Mustafa Cakir, and Chris M. Ray); (11) English Only? English-Only Policies, Multilingual Education and its Ramifications on Global Workforce Productivity (Orlando A. Pizana and Alex Kumi-Yeboah); (12) Reflections On A Research Experience at an International Treasure: The Alexander N. Charters Library of Resources for Educators of Adults (Lori Risley); (13) Bridging Adult Education Between East and West: Critical Reflection and Examination of Western Perspectives on Eastern Reality (Qi Sun and Elizabeth Anne Erichsen); (14) The Challenges and Prospects of Adult Education Programmes in Nigerian Universities (Nneka A. Umezulike); (15) The Perceived Impact of Women for Women International (WFWI) Non-formal Learning Programmes for Rural Women in Nigeria (Loretta C. Ukwuaba and Nneka A. Umezulike); (16) Perceptions of Needed Attitudinal Competencies Compared by Geographical Region (Helena Wallenberg-Lerner and Waynne B. James); (17) Identifying Intercultural Sensitivity Competencies Through Focus Group Research (Melanie L. Wicinski and Arthur Ray McCrory); and (18) Measuring Intercultural Sensitivity at the Army Medical Department Center and School: The IRB Process--Challenges and Lessons Learned (Roberta E. Worsham and Melanie L. Wicinski). Individual papers contain figures, tables, references and footnotes.

These "Proceedings" derived from the Commission for International Adult Education's (CIAE) 2018 International Pre-Conference. They contain 23 papers from 32 authors. Eight of the lead authors are graduate students -- four are rounding up their Master's degrees while four are on their doctoral programs. The rest are a mix of seasoned and mid-career adult education scholars and practitioners. Each year delegates travel from all over the world to share ideas, engage in scholarship, and inspire one another to continue to make meaningful change in the world. One of the greatest strengths of the CIAE conferences is the broad level of involvement from so many different areas of practice and study within the Adult Education field, and having such a large group of scholars and practitioners from around the globe each year is a significant part of what makes them who they are.