This chapter addresses the complexity of providing workplace ESL by identifying patterns of "best practices" in the related fields of human resource management, adult education, and training and development, all of which have a stake in workplace ESL and the integration of immigrant workers.

Three considerations for developing learner-centered approaches to professional development of adult educators are learning orientations, teaching orientations, and career stages. Strategies include examining one's own teaching and learning beliefs, analyzing learners' career stages, and supporting knowledge construction and meaning making.…

Discusses challenges facing higher education faculty and considers faculty development in the context of the learning organization using its five components: personal mastery, team learning, mental models, shared vision, and systems thinking. (Contains 29 references.) (SK)

Successful professional development is more than acquiring new techniques for practice. It involves an awareness of the "big picture" of the field of adult education and an understanding of how individuals can make a unique contribution to this picture. (Author/JOW)

Once information resources have been identified and located, it is important to understand how to get more out of professional literature. Techniques include identifying the domains of adult education knowledge, studying the classics of adult education, and having a disposition, a discipline, and a plan for reading for professional development.…

Describes the current context for professional development of adult educators, including the complex influences of multiple constituents. Outlines trends--technology for instructional delivery, funding challenges, and adult learner diversity--and issues--technology learning, professionalization, focus, and assessment. (Contains 17 references.) (SK)

Transformative learning theory provides a framework for development of authentic, individuated, critically reflective practitioners. Strategies for transformative professional development include action plans, reflective activities, case studies, and critical theory discussions. (Contains 17 references.) (SK)

Collins believes that adult and continuing education should resist further professionalization, which undermines its moral force and emancipatory intent. Cervero considers that educators should shape the meaning and outcome of the process of professionalization for practice. (SK)

Presents the Adult Learning Model for Faculty Development of adult educators, which incorporates principles of adult learning and program planning concepts used in adult education. (Contains 20 references.) (SK)

Addresses the professional development needs of adult basic education instructors. Describes federal and state resources for professional development. Recommends field-based research, reflective practice, and learner-centered instruction. (Contains 15 references.) (SK)

Organizational and workplace changes are altering the work of trainers and consequently their professional development needs. Training and development professionals need a foundation in training design and delivery with the ability to incorporate multiple perspectives, delivery systems, and locations and to be responsive to change. (SK)

An important part of professional development is writing for publication. A successful writer needs to engage in three simultaneous activities: focusing, understanding, and networking. (JOW)

Critical reflection is an essential element of successful practice. Developing a critically reflective approach to practice involves several steps: describe the task, analyze what is described, theorize about alternatives, and act on the basis of the theory. (JOW)

Research on 255 adult educators identified their needs in learning to use instructional technology. Results were used to depict technology professional development as a transformative journey. Strategies include assessing current knowledge and needs, engaging in development of relevant curriculum materials using technology, and reflecting on…

An integrative approach views professional development for adult educators as learner centered and transformative; it should address motivation and technology. A new vision of professional development reconceptualizes the process to include understanding of contexts, active learning, reflection, and dialogue. (SK)