Over 2000 years ago, Aristotle wrote of four distinct causes at play in the world we know. Those causes, the material cause, the formal cause, the efficient cause, and the final cause, were meant to refer to ontological and, by extension, epistemological concerns, and were powerful enough to be seized upon and used in some form by those of very…

Practitioners use an expansive array of instructional design models. Although many of these models acknowledge the need for analyzing occupational roles, they do not define steps for conducting these analyses. This article reviews prominent models and provides prescriptive guidance for selecting appropriate models given a project's (a) Product…

For adult English language learners, the English language classroom provides a space for students to examine cultural as well other identities. However, discussions often center on racial, rather than sexual identities. In addition, attention to how adult English language instructors engage in classroom practices that focus on sexual identities is…

With high unemployment and structural changes to industry, workforce development in the United States is a growing concern. Many semiskilled workers lack knowledge, skills, and abilities to be competitive for reemployment to green jobs. Nebraska's syNErgy research grant was introduced to address the training needs of unemployed and underemployed…

In this article, the author introduces Vox, Norwegian Institute for Adult Learning, an agency of the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research that focuses mainly on improving basic skills in the adult population in the areas of literacy, numeracy and the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT). Vox is responsible for curriculum…

The appearance of the adult learner in the milieu of higher education on such an unprecedented scale necessitates that educational administrators develop strategies that enhance the success of these students. In more than a few instances, this will entail a shifting of accepted paradigms and assumptions when it comes to the administration and…

In the Air Force's Advanced Communications-Computer Systems Officers Training (ACOT) Course, participants must complete the ACOT Learning Contract to learn more about a specific problem or topic. The group must reach consensus on a topic and grade for the contract, fostering intense teamwork. (JOW)

Diversity poses challenges for educators: confronting racism, increasing minority recruitment, developing a multicultural curriculum, and improving self-esteem. Strategies for multicultural curricula include assessing one's stand, developing goal orientation, establishing a resource center, linking with other institutions, supporting faculty…

Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, developed an adult education distance learning facility to extend its reach throughout the world. They hired residential campus instructors to teach courses by videotape using methods and materials similar to those used in the residential program. Problems faced included instructor disorientation and the…

Describes the process used in developing custom-tailored workplace basic skills programs. Examples show that learning objectives are mainly the same skills that are taught in more generic classes. The difference is that they use scenarios and text directly from the workplace. (Author/JOW)

Offers step-by-step guidelines for creating effective team work in a workplace basic skills program, including preplanning, determining worker skills, developing curriculum, evaluating, and reporting the results. (JOW)

Converting job materials into a basic skills curriculum requires collection of information about job functions; worker abilities; social, cultural, and interpersonal aspects of the workplace; and written materials used on the job. A balance should be struck between literacy and job skills. (JOW)

Points out that, to keep the work force up to date, business, industry, and labor groups are inviting adult basic educators to design and implement retraining programs at the worksite. Provides suggestion for designing custom-made basic skills instruction using work-related materials. (JOW)

This article provides a field-based account of how to develop and implement an adult workplace literacy program for English as a Second Language (ESL) students based upon the principles of a social practices definition of literacy. The purpose of the program is to provide basic literacy instruction for the growing population of Spanish-speaking…