This is an interpretive report, commissioned by The College Board's Future Directions for a Learning Society project, of the National Adult Continuing Education Conference held in Detroit 29 October-2 November 1977. Themes included international lifelong learning programs, competency-based education, older persons as resources, the need for…

The author reviews and discusses results of current adult education research in the areas of cognitive styles, learning strategies, adult learning, hemispheres of the brain, adult development stages, open learning systems, nontraditional forms of learning, social action, nature of adult participation, and other concepts. (MF)