Teachers' reflections on their practices in older adult non-formal education

This study aims to contribute knowledge about teachers' reflections on their own practice in Folkbildning activities for older adults and is based on Nordic-German Didaktik theory and the three main Didaktik questions: why?, what? and how?. Semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with teachers from different adult education associations. The study identified that the following purposes reflected by the teachers are connected with the why question: enjoyment, critical inquiry and resocialisation. Three principles of the what question are participants' interests, standards and plurality. Four principles relating to the how question are students' active participation, teachers' distinct guidance, individualisation and a permissive environment. The results further indicate that teachers expressed two approaches about their own teaching practice. The first approach emphasises the elements of Bildung, which involves critical thinking and questioning certain notions about the world, while the second focuses on socialisation and basic knowledge that is needed in society.