The Spoken Word as Arts-Based Adult Education

Abstract

Arts-based adult education has been embraced by a growing number of adult educators. These educators have explored its potential in the workplace, in the community and in academia. This article contributes to this work by exploring the Spoken Word, an art form located within the genre of poetry, and its potential as a tool of arts-based adult education. Through engagement, imaginative learning, authenticity and embodying democratic ideals and practices, I explore how the Spoken Word's educational goals are consistent with core goals of adult education such as meaning-making, transformation and critical reflection which I believe makes it an important yet overlooked practice of adult learning.