The final documents adopted at CONFINTEA V in 1997 set out a variety of issues and challenges for the future development of adult education worldwide. The forthcoming CONFINTEA VI conference, due in 2009, will mark another milestone and provide an opportunity for the stocktaking of success stories and unresolved challenges, and for the development…

This paper deals with specific characteristics of elders,1 bearing in mind both their cognitive and their non-cognitive aspects. Regarding their way of learning, the paper refers to basic principles for this group of people: active learning, situational analysis, their experience, awareness that they have--and need--specific time and rhythm for…

The Elderhostel program has provided many older persons with a stimulating learning experience at colleges throughout the United States and 46 other countries since its beginning in 1975. Participants in Elderhostel--who usually are retired, are more likely to be women than men, and range in age from 60 to the mid-90s--study topics of interest to…

The goal for the adult educator in modern society is to help individuals gain the competencies to function adequately with perpetual change. Adult education should plan and implement stress management programs as an educational activity that is a basis upon which people can learn to adapt to societal stress and rapid social evolution. The health…

Senior to Senior: Living Lessons is a program created to provide meaningful horticulture therapy activities for community minority elders (60 years of age and older) and senior college students (20 years of age and older) from an Historically Black University. The program's objectives were to promote positive intergenerational relationships and to…

Founded in 1932 at Monteagle, Tennessee, Highlander has functioned as a residential school, serving a variety of constituencies. Throughout its history, it has sought to help disadvantaged victims of injustice and poverty, principally in the South, to learn how to change their conditions. (SSH)

DARE (Developing Adult Resources through Education) is an educational program for the rural aged that provides courses ranging from those of a serious, academic orientation to the hobby/recreational to the practical. College and community resources can be used for the educational advantage of the older person. (Author)

Alumni colleges, sometimes called learning vacations or vacation colleges, offer a classroom experience built around an intellectual theme with trips, workshops, sightseeing, and cultural excursions, and are packaged to include room and board. Examples of programs offered at various colleges are described. (JMD)

This library skills program, which is offered by Slippery Rock State College (Pennsylvania) as part of its Vacation College program, was developed for adults who have been out of school many years. The vacation college concept of leisure and life long learning emphasizes the learning of recreational activities, along with more practical and…

Describes and discusses the development of the Chautauqua movement in the late nineteenth century, its success, and its impact on American education and culture. Started to improve Methodist Sunday School teaching, the movement grew to educational facilities for liberal educational programs, combined with recreational experience. (MF)

This journal issue focuses on the learner, looks at why literacy has become a major concern and examines the changes brought about by the mastery of new skills. "Literacy/Illiteracy in an International Perspective" (Carman St. John Hunter) frames the discussion by stressing that literacy and illiteracy are moving targets, not fixed by…

Discusses adult and continuing education programs in the public school district and the use of these programs to engender community support for the school in passing school budgets. Gives examples of efforts in Scotia-Glenville Central Schools, Scotia, New York: various evening classes, career guidance services, and teacher in-service credit…

Future Directions for a Learning Society is a program being conducted by the College Board with funds from the Exxon Corporation to study, plan, demonstrate, and develop new services in the area of adult, lifelong, recurrent, and continuing education. The initiatives and strategic actions of the program are outlined. (JMF)

Suggests alternatives to traditional methods of "dispensing" higher education to lifelong learners, focusing on changing teacher responsibilities, older college students, crediting experiential learning, extending services to private and public agencies, and learning contracts. Cites two examples of using contract learning. (JM)

Discusses competency-based education and its implications for lifelong learners. Describes the program at Alverno College, the Metropolitan Area Nursing Education Consortium, and the Personalized Learning and Teaching Opportunity (PLATO) program, focusing on the favorable response of adults to the self-discipline required and evidence of an…