SOCIAL CHANGE, ADULT EDUCATION AND SOCIOLOGY

Abstract

Adult education has gained importance recently as a type of education which is different from formal education in terms of learning, teaching and program contents. When examined in the historical process with its content and programs, it is observed that adult education is shaped by the economic, social and political conditions. Contents and programs that change over time also differ among societies in line with their own conditions and needs. The rapid change of adult education's content in accordance with social conditions makes it inevitable to consider adult education from a sociological perspective. Moreover, adult education contents and programs provide important data in order to monitor social change and prior economic and social needs of different eras. On the other hand, determining the planning of adult education, its programs, target audience and educational contents by economic, social and political conditions strengthens the link between adult education and sociology. Especially using the opportunities of sociology in the planning of educational contents, target audience and training will strengthen the effect of adult education. This study aims to look at the the historical background of adult education sociologically and discuss the contribution that sociology's current opportunities can provide adult education.