Higher Education in the Non-Traditional Classroom: Understanding the Unique Experience of Teaching in Prison

• In Event: Corrections Staff and Officer Work Experiences

Abstract

Because a large percentage of those who are incarcerated will eventually return to the community, investment in programs inside of prisons is important. While research on prison education programs began as early as the 1960s, the field is absent of a comprehensive understanding of how these programs operate from the perspective of the instructor. Through a mixed-methods approach utilizing a two-step explanatory design, this study examines the operation and functioning of prison education programs in order to highlight the distinct aspects and challenges associated with teaching in a prison environment. Preliminary results detailing how pedagogy and school climate translate to the non-traditional classroom, the logistics surrounding program operation and functioning, along with communication and technology will be discussed.

Author

• Ashley Appleby, Rutgers University, Newark