Stress in adult learners is a neglected topic, despite practitioners observing that their adult learners often display psychological discomfort. We address the effects psychological stress has on learning, then define the constructs of stress, trauma, resilience, and psychological distress. Twenty-three adult learners reading at elementary levels…

Immigrants in their later years can succeed at learning English and becoming citizens if they have access to instruction that considers their particular interests and stage of development, including their distinct cognitive, physical, and psychological profiles. Step One, a new age-friendly curriculum, helps older newcomers take the first steps in…

This paper uses a thematic narrative analysis approach to explore the experiences of individuals who support those living with literacy gaps in Australia. Themes of collective shame and responsibility surrounding adult literacy gaps, as well as the communicative expertise and critical reflexivity developed by supporters in their roles, are…

Literacy skills can assist in the navigation and enjoyment of adult life. For individuals who have reached adulthood without strong literacy skills, opportunities for continued literacy learning are few. Redesigning AAC technologies to support literacy skill development could extend literacy learning opportunities for adults with developmental…

There is a growing trend of states offering alternative pathways towards a high school equivalency outside of the traditional standardized test. Amidst this landscape, this study utilizes elements of teaching inquiry, participatory action research, and qualitative methods, to investigate the outcomes of using multimodal play in a composition unit…

Literacy is a fundamental aspect of development and a step towards freedom and liberation from socio-economic constraints, because it enables all citizens to realise their basic right to learning. However, the global efforts which -- according to a 2017 estimate of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) --…

This study explores the effectiveness of social practice approach by integrating social practices along with modern teaching strategies, and teacher training to address the challenge of low academic achievement among adult learners in basic literacy programs. For a 4-month experiment, two of a metropolitan city's fourteen adult literacy centres…

Adult literacy skills are critical assets of individuals as well as societies in terms of economic (e.g., human capital) and social well-being. Thus, it is important to monitor the long-term trends and sources of skill gain/loss. Yet, temporal sources of adult literacy skill variation are understudied. The current study analyzed three comparable,…

The Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers (AALPD) provides an avenue for networking of professional developers in the field of adult education. In the early years, the organization established three priorities related to professional development: (1) professional development standards, (2) research, and (3) funding. In 2006, the…

This study used PIAAC process data to examine time-related allocation patterns (time for the first action, total time, last action) of low-skilled, relative to higher-skilled, adults on digital literacy items. Results suggest that less-skilled (Level 2) and higher skilled adults (Levels 3-5) exhibited similar time allocation patterns; however,…

The United States has been the global leader resettling refugees since the 1970s; its resettlement program is the largest in the world. The state of Texas has a high number of admissions and longstanding refugee programs which makes it a strategic site for research. This article reports findings of a reflective case study within an open enrollment…

This article investigates regional disparities in Romanian adults' numeracy and literacy skills. We analyse a novel data set that combines the assessment of numeracy and literacy competencies of the adult population in Romania with information about regional economic conditions and educational administrative data. Using a background questionnaire…

Adult literacy provision globally and in Uganda has, over the years, undergone changes because addressing the learning needs of adult learners in a wide range of contexts requires innovative programming. This paper uses the Adult Learning and Education System Building Approach (ALESBA) to analyse the operational environment and institutional…

Adult literacy is an essential subject to examine given its impact on human development indicators. A significant gap exists as nation-states progress on these indices, especially in developing economies. National governments and international and bilateral development organizations seek to improve adult literacy metrics for the developing world…

This study analyses how older (mostly 60 years or over) women who are literacy students at Youth and Adult Education Program in a small village of Brazil appropriate school numeracy practices during a class about the discursive genre "label" and the information it conveys. We focus on the students' participation in the discursive…