Adult students have different backgrounds, knowledge, experiences, abilities, interests, and learning needs. Hence, teaching all learners the same way is not the most effective. Individual differences should be considered. Exposing a whole class to one set of content, exercises, and assessment activities is unrealistic. In other words, to learn…

Educational program planning is a complex ongoing process and planners should reflect on and consider for all of the involved factors, context, and people. The purpose of this study is to analyze how to plan effective educational programs for adult learners. Adult education is a developmental process and interacts with broad social events. Adult…

Fewer than half of working-age adults hold a credential beyond a high school diploma. As the economy increasingly moves from an industrial base to a knowledge base, this population will need access to high-quality degree programs in relevant fields. Fortunately, online learning has made this achievable. The challenge of serving this population…

This paper reviews a selection of doctoral theses on language learning and teaching completed in Spain between 2008 and 2010. A total of 16 theses have been identified as representative--in terms of the topics under investigation and the methodology employed--of the doctoral research undertaken in Spain. Current topics include the development of…

This paper reports on work undertaken within a pilot study concerned with the design, development, and evaluation of online computer science training courses. Drawing on recent developments in e-learning technology, these courses were structured around the principles of a learner-oriented approach for use with adult learners. The paper describes a…

This study examined the strategies employed by program administrators in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU), as they negotiate sociopolitical interests in developing continuing higher education programs. Using a qualitative research design, the analysis was guided by the Cervero and Wilson adult and continuing education program…

The Learning Together longitudinal study focuses on four counties' efforts to expand bachelor's degree opportunities in early care and education (ECE) for adults currently working in the field. The "student cohort" model--in which small groups of ECE students with similar interests and characteristics pursue a bachelor's degree together,…

Interest in expanding access to higher education has been driven by concerns about ethnic and linguistic stratification within the early childhood workforce, and building a pipeline for diversifying the early care and education (ECE) field's leadership. "Cohort" B.A. completion programs, which target small groups of adults working in ECE…

The purposes of this paper are to explain the development processes of an intensive summer program for English language learners and to discuss course improvement strategies based on the evaluation outcomes. This 60-hr partnership program between local schools and a university was developed to improve the language proficiency of increasing numbers…

Museums and art galleries have potential for exciting learning programs for adult students. Courses must be consciously constructed to meet adult learners' expectations for personal growth, and detailed planning is required for complex logistical details of courses offered locally or abroad. However, good programs will have a growing audience.…

This article explores the various constraints on student involvement in the process of planning adult literacy programs. It examines the cultural traits of illiteracy and the traits of continuing education professionals in order to find the limits of their effectiveness. (Author/CT)

This report reflects the first year of a multiyear effort to examine B.A. completion cohort programs in early care and education in four California counties. The six programs under investigation were developed with similar goals: (1) To increase and retain a pool of B.A.-level professionals in the ECE field with culturally, linguistically, and…

The development of biliteracy programs designed for adults involves a broad range of sociolinguistic questions that can be approached from a language planning perspective. As a problem-solving activity, language planning is the realization of language policy that a government adopts in respect to such issues as language diversity, minority…

Nursing faculty from 35 programs met at workshops to discuss problems of admission policies and curriculum design for the increasing number of RNs seeking a BSN degree. Items of concern included the identification of critical issues, curriculum design models, curriculum revision, faculty and administrator attitudes, and student needs. (CT)

The purposes and approaches of faculty development are discussed, along with specific college faculty development programs. A model for examining such activities and a framework for designing and implementing a faculty development workshop are also examined. Popular faculty development efforts include: faculty mentors for new faculty, conferences…