Informal science is a burgeoning field that operates across a broad range of venues and envisages learning outcomes for individuals, schools, families, and society. The evidence base that describes informal science, its promise, and effects is informed by a range of disciplines and perspectives, including field-based research, visitor studies, and…

A study evaluated the 83 basic skills open learning centers established in England and Wales to improve opportunities for adults and young people to improve essential basic skills. They were established in a variety of locations, ranging from further education colleges or adult education centers to libraries and shops. The most successful centers…

The Pennsylvania Adult Literacy Practitioner Inquiry Network (PALPIN) project was conducted to establish statewide and regional inquiry groups to help adult literacy practitioners improve their performance by raising and investigating issues meaningful to their day-to-day practice. The conceptual framework underlying Philadelphia's Adult Literacy…

These proceedings consist of 20 presentations made during 5 sessions at a conference dealing with alternative degree programs for adults. The following papers are included: "Narrative Reasoning as Assessment" (Richard M. Ashbrook); "Political and Administrative Issues in Developing a Distance Learning Based Program" (Margaret…

This training manual deals with developing and implementing work force education (workplace literacy) programs. It consists of three sections and an appendix. Discussed in the first section are the scope and purpose of work force education, work force education participants, types of basic skills problems and solutions, and the need for…

This book examines the connection between poverty and illiteracy among women in a global context and presents guidelines for developing literacy activities for women. The following topics are covered: defining literacy (negative effects of illiteracy and literacy programs for women); global context (literacy gap, gender disparities, urban/rural…

This set of 36 newsletters deals with adult literacy programs and issues of interest to the business and literacy communities. Each issue contains either a message to corporate chief executive officers or a Business Council for Effective Literacy (BCEL) editorial, and most issues include brief reports on recent BCEL and corporate literacy actions…

Most presently existing literacy training programs for inmates in America's prisons are inadequate. Before program planners and developers can remedy this situation, they must be able to obtain accurate information on the numbers of illiterate inmates and the numbers of inmates currently receiving literacy instruction in America's prisons. The…

A study examined existing collaborative activities between private or public employers and adult basic education (ABE), general educational development (GED), and English as a second language (ESL) programs in Maryland's 24 local education agencies. Information was gathered directly from 16 ABE administrators (including 4 community college…

Project REDEAL (Research and Evaluation of Distance Education for the Adult Learner) was designed to investigate the motivation and management of adult learners in the distance educational setting of Athabasca University in Edmonton, Alberta. During the course of the 22-month project, specialists compiled a series of research and technical reports…

An interdisciplinary, team approach involving a variety of support services and a joint effort on the part of faculty, admissions personnel, peers, and tutors can be an effective tool for use in reducing the anxiety of adults who are returning to education. Whether they are organized to publicize departmental offerings or to explain the function…

This guide is a resource both for organizing and for managing adult literacy programs. Based on the collective input and refinement of national leaders in adult basic education, the handbook provides coverage of program planning, staff development, student recruitment and retention, instructional approaches and techniques, instructional materials,…

To support the New York State Education Department's efforts, a project was carried out to design and implement information and reporting systems that serve the needs of occupational information. Technical assistance was provided throughout the project to implement an occupational education reporting system in New York City and coordinate that…

The Regional Continuing Education for Women Program (RCEWP), involving Temple University and four community colleges in the Philadelphia area, resulted in the establishment of programs and services at the community colleges to assist adults, particularly women, who are returning to college. It also meant the establishment of a model…

The report presents an evaluation of the internal operation and potential application of Project RFD, a multi-media demonstration project in Adult Basic Education for rural adults. The first section of the report contains a description of the project, and a summary and rating of the attainment of each of the 10 project goals. Subsequent sections…