Historians have characterized the period from the late eighteenth century to the late nineteenth century as the “age of improvement.” Drawing fully on the course readings for this unit, examine how the emergence of different forms of adult education (agricultural societies, Mechanics’ Institutes, literary societies, public spheres, discordant pedagogies) can be understood within the ethos of improvement.Historians have characterized the period from the late eighteenth century to the late nineteenth century as the “age of improvement.” Drawing fully on the course readings for this unit, examine how the emergence of different forms of adult education (agricultural societies, Mechanics’ Institutes, literary societies, public spheres, discordant pedagogies) can be understood within the ethos of improvement.