At
the Forefront of Research in Adult Jewish Education
Thanks
to its unique position in the Jewish world, the Florence Melton
Adult Mini-School Institute is at the forefront of research
in adult Jewish education. With a student/alumni base of close
to 20,000, locations in a broad range of communities and the
research facilities of the Hebrew University, the FMAMS Institute
has an unparalleled ability to study this field, for which
little research literature exists.
Areas
of research include:
New
Research Shows: Mini-School Changes Lives
In
a recent research study of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School's
impact on adult learners, two-thirds of those interviewed
reported a strengthening or enhancement in different facets
of Jewish life.
The
more pronounced areas of change included:
- Enhanced
appreciation for Jewish learning and greater competence
in text study
- Greater
support for enrolling children in Jewish Day Schools
- Enriched
meaning and purpose associated with ritual observance, prayer,
holiday celebration, and organized communal involvement
- Expanded
engagement in the family as Jewish teachers and role
models
- Broader
sensitivity to ethical implications in everyday life
- Increased
attachment to the Jewish Community and Jewish People
These,
and other positive outcomes, emerged in a social scientific
study of FMAMS learners conducted by Lisa Grant, Meredith
Woocher, Diane T. Schuster, and Steven M. Cohen. The study
combined over 30 personal qualitative interviews of students
and staff with a quantitative sample survey of 346 students
completing the two-year Mini-School in 16 cities across the
United States.
Social Entrepreneurship
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