Personal Vita
11/26/02 Compiled by Susan Ferrito
Name
Stephen David Brookfield
[Stephen D. Brookfield, Steve Brookfield]
[source: Roger Hiemstra; Stephen Brookfield]
Strategy Hints
Several web sites, as listed in each section; Author's textbooks on Adult Education.
Bio/Historical Notes
Born in Liverpool, England 1949 raised and educated in England. Married Kim, 1986. Children: Molly Brookfield, Colin Brookfield. Started his teaching career in 1970. He has held appointments in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada ,and Australia. Currently Stephen is a Distinguished Professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He has run numerous workshops on teaching, adult learning, and critical thinking around the world to college and university groups, major US companies such as IBM, AT&T, Eli Lilly, and educational institutions in Canada and the United Kingdom. He has delivered keynote addresses at regional, national, and international education conferences. His work has been translated into German, Finnish, and Chinese. He has received several awards: 2001 Leadership Award from the Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE). Awarded for "extraordinary contributions to the general field of continuing education on a national and international level"; 1996 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education. Awarded by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education for Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher; 1989 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education. Awarded by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education for Developing Critical Thinkers; 1986 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education. Awarded by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education for Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning; 1986 Imogene Okes Award for Outstanding Research in Adult Education. Awarded by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education for Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning.
[source: Stephen Brookfield; A review of General Semantics, Spring 1994, v51, n1, p3(15)]
Birth Date
1949
Source of Birth Date
Stephen Brookfield
Education
1991--Doctor of Letters (LL.D.) Honorary degree awarded by the University System of New Hampshire for 'Contributions to the Understanding of Adult Learning and Educational Practice'
1980--Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Awarded by the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. Thesis on Independent Adult Learning
1977--Post-graduate diploma in University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. Adult Education Thesis on Discussion as a Teaching Technique
1974--Master of Arts (M.A.) in University of Reading, United Kingdom. Theoretical Sociology Thesis on Charles Booth and Sociology
1971--Post-graduate diploma in University of London (Chelsea College), United Kingdom; Modern Social & Cultural Studies Mass Communications, Popular Culture and Social Theory
1970--Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) (Honours) in Coventry University, United Kingdom; Modern Studies Interdisciplinary degree in History and Politics
[source: Stephen Brookfield; Brookfield, S. D. (1994, © 1986). Understanding and facilitating adult learning: A comprehensive analysis of principles and effective practices. p. xv-xvi. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass and England: Open University Press]
Work History
Fellowships and Visiting Professorships:
2002--Visiting Professor, Harvard University
1998-200--Honorary Research Associate, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia
1996--Findling Fellow at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
1992--Research Fellow of the Project for the Study of Adult Learning (PSAL)
1989--Visiting Fellow of the Institute for Technical and Adult Education at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
1984--Kellog Fellow. Represented the Commission of Professors of Adult Education at the 1984 SCUTREA meeting, Bristol, UK. (SCUTREA: Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research into the Education of Adults)
Positions:
1991-current--Distinguished Professor, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. "My distinguished professorship is a unique university-wide position. I am not assigned to any specific department, but hold a 'university professorship'. As Distinguished Professor of the university I attempt to create a high profile for the university through my writing and speaking and to model a cross-unit, interdisciplinary contribution to the scholarly life of the community. My time is split between writing, publishing, speaking, program development, professional development, mentoring, and teaching."
2002--Visiting Professor, Harvard University
1982-1991--Professor, Department of Higher and Adult Education, Columbia University, Teachers College, New York. Taught master's and doctoral level courses in adult education, qualitative research, critical thinking; served as doctoral dissertation chair for 25 students, member of 50 doctoral dissertation committees, twice served as interim head of department, member of college wide academic affairs committee and grievance committee.
1989--Visiting Fellow, Institute for Technical and Adult Teacher Education, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. A sabbatical position. Taught on master's courses in adult education, conducted workshops for human resources development program, and gave presentations to several community groups.
1981-1982 Research Officer, National Advisory Council for Adult and Continuing Education (England and Wales). Responsible for planning and conducting research projects in response to ministerial requests, and for writing drafts of the final reports. Particular responsibility for senior authorship of report on distance education and adult students.
1980-1981--Visiting Assistant Professor, Division of Administrative, Higher and Adult Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Taught master's and doctoral level courses in adult education, distance education and community education.
1974-1980--Head of Department, Department of Community, Social and Environmental Development, Malvern Hills College of Adult Education, United Kingdom. Organized adult educational programs in the west midlands across a range of subject matters. Developed and ran an educational advisory service for adults, a correspondence tuition service, a study skills unit, and a supporting autonomous adult learning groups scheme.
1972-1974--Lecturer in Sociology and Adult Education, East Devon Technical College. Taught courses in sociology, mostly to adult social work retraining courses.
1971-1972--Lecturer in Sociology, Thames Valley University, United Kingdom. Taught mostly on GCE 'O' and A' level courses.
1970-1971--Lecturer in General Studies, Lewisham and Eltham College of Further Education, United Kingdom. Taught liberal/general studies to apprenticeship courses across a range of vocations.
[source: Stephen Brookfield; Brookfield, S. D. (1994, © 1986). Understanding and facilitating adult learning: A comprehensive analysis of principles and effective practices. p. xv-xvi. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass and England: Open University Press.]
Associated Subjects
Adult Learning
Community Adult Education
Critical Reflection
Critical Theory
Critical Thinking
Discussion in Teaching
Experiential Learning
Negotiated Curricula/Contract Learning
Peer Learning
Political & Philosophical aspects of Adult & Continuing Education
Program Development and Evaluation
Self-directed Learning
Training educators of adults
[source: Brookfield, S. D. (1994, © 1986). Understanding and facilitating adult learning: A comprehensive analysis of principles and effective practices. p. xv-xvi. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass and England: Open University Press; Peters, J. M., Jarvis, P., and Associates (1991) Adult Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass]
Associated People
Colin Brookfield
Molly Brookfield
H. Arthur Jones
Jack Mezirow
Kimerly Miller
Allen Tough
[source: Stephen Brookfield; Brookfield, S. D. (1994, © 1986). Understanding and facilitating adult learning: A comprehensive analysis of principles and effective practices. p. xv-xvi. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass and England: Open University Press; Peters, J. M., Jarvis, P., and Associates (1991) Adult Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass]
Associated Organizations
British and North American Network for Adult Education
Founding member of the International League for Social Commitment in Adult Education
National Executive Committee of the Association for Recurrent Education in the United Kingdom (1981)
[source: Brookfield, S. D. (1994, © 1986). Understanding and facilitating adult learning: A comprehensive analysis of principles and effective practices. p. xv-xvi. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass and England: Open University Press]
Associated Events/Projects
Chair of the Adult Education Research Conference (1985) in North America
Consulting Editor for the Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education since 1999
Editorial Board member of Adult Education Quarterly (USA) since 1983Editorial Board member of International Journal of University Adult Education since 1995
International Editorial Advisory Board member of Studies in the Education of Adults (United Kingdom) since 1994
International Editorial Advisory Board member of Studies in Continuing Education (Australia) since 1987
[source: Stephen Brookfield]
Associated Places
Australia
United Kingdom
United States
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
[source: Brookfield, S. D. (1994, © 1986). Understanding and facilitating adult learning: A comprehensive analysis of principles and effective practices. p. xv-xvi. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass and England: Open University Press]
Publications
Books:
Brookfield, S. D. (Forthcoming). Lifelong Learning: Education Across the Lifespan. Philadelphia: Falmer Press.
Brookfield, S. D. & Preskill, S. (1999). Discussion as a way of teaching: Tools and techniques for democratic classrooms. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass and Buckingham: Open University Press.
Brookfield, S. D. (1995). Becoming a critically reflective teacher. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Brookfield, S. D. (1994, © 1986). Understanding and facilitating adult learning: A comprehensive analysis of principles and effective practices. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass and England: Open University Press.
Brookfield, S. D. (1991, © 1987). Developing Critical Thinkers: Challenging adults to explore alternative ways of thinking and acting. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass and England: Open University Press.
Brookfield, S. D. (1990). The Skillful Teacher: On technique, trust and responsiveness in the classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Brookfield, S. D. (1988). Training educators of adults: the theory and practice of graduate adult education. London and New York: Routledge, Chapman and Hall.
Brookfield, S. D. & Lindeman, E. (1987). Learning Democracy: Eduard Lindeman on adult education and social change. London; Wolfeboro, N.H.: Croom Helm.
Brookfield, S. D. (1985). Self-Directed learning: From theory to practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Brookfield, S. D. (1984). Adult learners, adult education and the community. New York: Teachers College, Columbia University and England: Open University Press (1983).
Go here to see additional publications.
-- Cross-reference to Project Vitae in Adult Education