The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) has launched a new publication, "Integrated Approaches to Literacy and Skills Development: Examples of Best Practice in Adult Learning Programmes." This new compilation showcases 21 adult education programmes that demonstrate promising approaches to integrating literacy, life skills and…

This paper attempts to identify some tools to help practioners think about, debate and plan Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills (WLES) programs. Such tools are necessary so that discussions between practitioners aiming to clarify good practice and successful approaches can get beyond mere descriptions of what happened. In order to compare and…

Describes a customized tutoring program devised for a manufacturing industry worker. Identifies the following keys to success: negotiating course content and structure, ensuring transfer of skills between work and home, and maintaining a relaxed learning environment. (SK)

Documents a workplace literacy program for people with disabilities in Australia. Activities include rewriting government service standards into plain English, formulating individualized employment plans, conducting a skills audit, and focusing on numeracy needs. (SK)

The author describes a workplace literacy program designed by the Milwaukee SER-Jobs for Progress, Inc. for Res Manufacturing Company. This program enabled Res Manufacturing to upgrade its employees' basic skills, increase productivity, and eliminate the need for layoffs. (CH)

Examines the nature and effects of predominant understandings or formulations of the relationship between literacy and work. Evaluates what workplace literacy programs have typically been designed to do. Discusses possible ways for future programs to create real opportunities for all participants to be truly involved in the process of workplace…

This guide, which is intended for project directors, coordinators, and other professional staff interested in marketing adult basic skills and workplace education programs to business, presents a six-step process for developing a marketing plan. Discussed first are the purposes of marketing and considerations in marketing workplace education to…

Provides suggestions for designing customized basic skills instruction using work-related reading needs. Highlights opportunities for adult educators in workplace literacy. (SK)

Two Australian projects--integrating numeracy into a construction training course and integrating literacy in rural training--illustrate the development of integrated curricula and the necessity of contextualized, multiple literacies. Literacy is not a set of generic skills to be taught in isolation, but highly specific vocational and social…

Melville's "Bartleby" and "The Paradise of Bachelors and The Tartarus of Maidens" provide insights into workplace literacy on the following issues: existential nature of literacy, empowerment versus compliance, class and gender exploitation, and the use of literacy as a tool to label, control, and delimit people and their…

In workplace reading classes, employees practiced self-monitoring, use of background knowledge, identification of the purpose of reading, work-related vocabulary, and concept mapping. A survey one year later showed most were still using self-monitoring, prior knowledge, purpose of reading, and critical vocabulary on the job. (SK)

A survey of 2,021 Nevada employers received 1,124 usable responses indicating significant differences in their interest in adult basic education services. Larger organizations were more interested (57% of those with more than 500 employees). They were most interested in methods to encourage attendance and in availability of information about…

In a survey of 16 companies with over 500 employees, 12 respondents believed illiteracy was a national problem. Eight considered it a local problem. Eleven believed that schools adequately prepare employees. Limited interest in financially supporting reading programs was expressed. (SK)

This guide, which is intended for project directors, coordinators, and other professional staff involved in developing/delivering workplace education programs, explains the process of developing a functional context workplace education curriculum. Discussed first are the following: the types of information needed to develop a functional context…

Future jobs will require a higher level of literacy, yet the work force will contain a larger percentage of undereducated employees. Business must work with other sectors to fill the skill deficiency gap. Several interactive video programs have been developed to help employees improve basic skills. (CH)