Opinion
Columns and essays in ELM Magazine approach current issues from personal and engaging perspectives. The series of columns "I argue" features texts written by researchers, each presenting a well-argued statement on a topic of their research.
I argue: The Covid years reiterated the importance of lifelong learning
In ELM’s "I argue" series, Dr. Satya Brink, a Canadian researcher, states that the negative social impacts of the Covid years on disadvantaged and older adults could have been mitigated by lifelong learning.
Estonians’ belief: Education is the gateway to enhanced living
Could the outstanding results in Estonia’s general education be translated into adult education? In her column, Maie Kitsing explores the four pillars of the country’s education system. Kitsing serves as Advisor at the General Education Department at the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research.
Christoph Bretgeld: “We must talk about skills, not titles”
In his Speakers’ Corner column, Christoph Bretgeld argues that we must develop our perception of skills and acknowledge their roles as carriers of more accurate information. This would lead to better-functioning labour markets. Speakers’ Corner columns are produced in cooperation with the European Association for the Education of Adults.
Jasmina Mirčeva: “The education of deaf and hard of hearing adults is imperative”
“Deaf and hard of hearing individuals should not be overlooked,” argues Slovenian researcher Jasmina Mirčeva. In her column, she discusses the necessity and challenges of their inclusion in adult education.
Duygu Güner: “Ignoring the hidden barriers behind low training participation is no longer an option”
In her Speakers’ Corner column, economist Duygu Güner describes the past year as being marked by an enthusiastic discussion on skills shortages and the imperative of continuous reskilling/upskilling efforts in the EU. Nevertheless, determining how to increase low training participation rates remains the main challenge. Speakers’ Corner columns are produced in cooperation with EAEA, the European Association for the Education of Adults.
I argue: Visuals play a crucial role in digital learning
In ELM’s "I argue" series, Professor Mie Buhl asserts that visuals are highly influential in digital learning environments, profoundly impacting cognitive development and social capacity within learning practices. The new series of columns, "I argue," features texts written by researchers, each presenting a well-argued statement on a topic of their research.
Joshua Wilhelm: “We shouldn’t ban GenAI, but teach a critical way of using it”
Tools that utilise generative artificial intelligence have spread like wildfire. Joshua Wilhelm, in his column, expresses concern about the increasing, uncritical use of these tools among students. Drawing from personal experience, he proposes a solution: teaching comprehensive AI literacy. How should we do it?
How can we talk with people with radically different worldviews?
Social anthropologist Emanuel Schaeublin, in his column, points out the increasing importance of being able to conduct constructive conversations with those who view the world in radically different ways. He describes two skills which pave the way toward this.
Adult education and civil society organisations: Learning spaces in times of democratic turbulence
Nils-Eyk Zimmermann, in his column, argues that adult education addressing civic competence and active citizenship should be better supported. According to him, civil society organizations play a key role in bringing about social change and solving problems in societies.
Making health literacy everyone’s business: How Ireland got adult and health literacy on the government agenda
Helen Ryan, in her column, tells how a crucial strategy by the new government played a vital role in prioritising health literacy on the national agenda in Ireland. According to her, the most successful way to promote health literacy issues among health professionals was by telling about people’s lived experience. Data and statistics were important, but it was the human stories that resonated the most.
