Prepared for discussion at an Adult Education Research Conference, this paper offers commentary and summative evaluation of eleven doctoral dissertations on the process of determining educational or training needs of specific adult populations. As context for discussion Joe Ellis' definitions of needs--Felt, Real, and Education--are noted along…

The characteristics of 18.2 million persons who participated in postsecondary education activities are described, based on the results of the Bureau of the Census' October 1982 Current Population Survey. Included are: participation rates of population groups and an unduplicated count of postsecondary students; a breakdown of students by type of…

The Workplace Project (WPP) at Alpena Community College, in Michigan, uses a range of assessment instruments to measure learner performance in workplace classes. The Test of Adult Basic Education is administered at the beginning of the course to establish a baseline standardized test score, and again at the end of course to measure gains. Also,…

This book contains 10 papers based on a data set from the 1994 International Adult Literacy Survey, which collected data from more than 20,000 individual respondents in samples representative of the adult populations in 6 countries: Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. The papers are: "Foreword"…

This Skills and Knowledge Profile is designed to help adults identify the wide range of skills and experience they have and give themselves credit for what they have learned outside school. It can be used for training and education programs, education proposals, and for self-assessment. Using checklists, short-answer formats, and line drawings,…

This report is an overview of the current state of adult education and guidance in Scotland, focusing on issues and problems and suggesting methods of helping more adults take advantage of educational opportunities. The report is organized in six chapters. The first chapter surveys policy and conceptual issues in the development of guidance for…

The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in continuing health professional education (CHPE) was examined in a national survey of Canadian CHPE providers. Of the 3,044 surveys distributed to schools of medicine, nursing, and pharmacy, national/provincial health professional associations, nonprofit health advocacy organizations,…

Part of an effort to expand and improve community college programs and services for older adults, this two-part report summarizes results from a national survey of older adult programs and provides an overview of current trends and their implications for action in community colleges. Following introductory sections, the report discusses a fall…

A study investigated ways employers and their apprentices and trainees perceive how these employees' English language and literacy (ELL) skills affect their learning and performance in the workplace in the current context of New Apprenticeships. The research design and methodology involved sending an opinion survey to a stratified random sample of…

This report from the 91st session of the International Labor Organization (ILO) conference examines recent legislation, policies, and practices reflecting new approaches to learning and training. The document was intended to foster discussion regarding a revision of the ILO standard on human resources training and development. Chapter I examines…

The literacy programs and policies implemented in Australia over the past decade were reviewed to identify initiatives that have and have not had a positive impact on vocational education and training (VET) and lifelong learning opportunities. Policies and practices in seven other countries were also reviewed. The following themes received…

Trends in using computer technology for career development and human resources development in companies in the United States and worldwide were reviewed, and the possibilities of adapting the latest advances in digital technology-based training delivery systems in school-based contexts were explored. A model was proposed that entailed having chief…

The extent to which vocational education and training policy is nurturing lifelong learning in Finland was examined. The analysis focused on the following issues: the political and structural framework of education in Finland; mechanisms supporting lifelong learning; and pedagogical solutions and learning environments facilitating lifelong…