Our nation's economy and global competitiveness depend on an educated, skilled workforce that can quickly adapt to changes in technology and business processes. Adult educators understand that adult learners need opportunities to obtain workplace and career management skills through work-based learning experiences that prepare them for the complex…

Needs assessment is an integral part of designing instruction for adults. However, more work needs to be done to strengthen the definition and theory. Needs assessment will be served by carefully designed studies that analyze the extent and type of impact needs assessments have had on subsequent program development activities. (CT)

Reviews the needs assessment studies described in this journal issue. Concludes that (1) lessons from completed needs assessments can help continuing education practitioners plan and conduct future studies, and (2) a rational, need-reduction, decision-making approach can improve continuing education programs. (CT)

The authors advocate a holistic approach to program development that transcends the boundaries of the sponsoring agency and provides a link between needs assessment, instructional design and development, learning activities, and societal impact. This frame of reference views the efforts of adult educators and their organizations as means to…

Describes the College of the Living, a program of continuing education for the disabled at Colorado State University: its history, program design, philosophy, needs assessment of the target population, objectives, implementation, and program evaluation. (CT)

Describes Project Refocus, an outplacement service specially targeted toward blue-collar workers. Services include (1) testing and assessment, (2) counseling, and (3) job placement. (CH)

Investigates the need for teacher education activities which could be made available to part-time instructors of adult vocational education programs. Also explores what the format and content of such a program should be. (CT)

Gathering information is futile without implementation of programs based on the findings. Data from a single needs assessment study can provide useful information to decision makers at several levels. Studies of a general population of adults provide data for state, regional, and local continuing education practitioners. (CT)

The 1977-78 program plan is presented for the National Institute of Education (NIE) Education and Work Group, which sponsors research on the nature of the relationship between schooling and work and develops programs which aim at increasing the ability of youth and adults to choose, enter, and progress in careers without regard to the barriers…

Using the concept of organizational effectiveness to aid in the development of a statewide policy for educational information centers (EICs), a project described and analyzed selected organizational features of 28 Pennsylvania Educational Information Centers. Six organizational attributes, dealing with structure, policy, and process (legitimacy,…

The causal relationship among adult literacy, social evolution, and economic development has traditionally made adult literacy programs a priority in developing nations. To develop effective adult literacy programs, educational planners must consider a variety of linguistic, cultural, economic, and political needs. First of all, planners must…

This paper details plans for a one-and-one-half-day volunteer training workshop specifically designed to consider limitations such as manpower, money, time, and distance that are often encountered in the development of training events for rural areas. The paper begins by providing background on rural aging, and needs assessment information on the…

This paper reviews and analyzes the literature dealing with training teachers of adults. Existing exemplary training programs and practices are identified and described, enabling practitioners to choose alternative models and programs for practice. Contents include: Need for the study; search of literature, needs of teachers; identified desirable…

This book introduces key issues in program planning as practiced in business and educational settings. Two chapters in part 1 introduce two foundational models--Lifelong Education Program Planning (LEPP) model and Contingency-Based Program Planning--and provide background on models designed by Houle, Knowles, Boyle, and Nadler. Parts 2-5 focus on…

Designed for use either as a self-study tool or as the basis for a five-day workshop, this curriculum package provides public sector trainers with an opportunity to develop and improve their skills in the areas of assessing training needs, designing and conducting training programs, and evaluating training programs. It contains four leader's…