Teachers and trainers in adult and further education: relations between their educational background and teaching experience with their knowledge about teaching methods

Abstract Teachers’ knowledge about teaching methods is an important facet of adult education teachers’ pedagogical/psychological knowledge (PPK). The authors examine whether and how this knowledge is correlated with the educational background and the teaching experience of N = 212 adult education teachers. The results point to a positive correlation between the amount of further training concerning the topic teaching and learning and the knowledge about teaching methods. Moreover, teachers with a focal point on vocational training showed a relatively high amount of knowledge about teaching methods. Contrary to the assumptions, there was no (direct) correlation between teachers’ teaching experience and teachers’ knowledge as well as between teachers’ pedagogical education and teachers’ knowledge. Finally, results are discussed with regard to their reliability and reach as well as to their contribution to the present discourse in the field of adult education