The use of a developmental curriculum design to teach a direct practice methods course is described. The design is based on the principles of andragogy, which highlights self-motivated adult learning. Students and faculty collaborate in setting and implementing course objectives. (Author/LBH)

This study investigated the relationships between: (1) two dimensions of adult literacy instruction; and (2) change in the literacy practices of adult literacy students. The two instructional dimensions investigated were: (1) degree of authenticity of the activities and texts employed in the literacy class; and (2) degree of teacher/student…

This guide addresses issues of learner persistence, motivation, and retention in adult basic education (ABE). Based on findings from the NCSALL Adult Student Persistence Study, participants engage in an examination of their own interests and experiences with learner motivation and retention and examine strategies of other practitioners. The goal…

Australia's Certificates in Science for Adults (CSA) are designed for adults who left school early and/or who did not pursue science at school and who now want to improve their knowledge, understanding, and skills. The curriculum aims to advance purposes of diverse learners; provide adult students with credentials recognizing competence in…

CASAS, in cooperation with the CASAS National Consortium Policy Council, conducted a study to provide guidance to program and instructional staff regarding student readiness to take the GED Tests. The study looked at the relationship of CASAS reading and math scores to official 2002 GED test results from five states--California, Hawaii, Iowa,…

Now in its ninth edition, "Phonics Pathways" (with help from Dewey the Bookworm[TM]) teaches students of all ages the rudiments of phonics and spelling with an efficient, practical, and foolproof method. Written in an easy-to-use format, "Phonics Pathways" is organized by sounds and spelling patterns. The patterns are introduced one at a time and…

This Winter 2006 issue of "Learners in Action" contains the following articles: (1) Premiers Honour Adult Learners; (2) Learning Difficulties?; (3) Awards; (4) Hats off to Jacques Demers!; (5) What Do You Think?; (6) Meet the Current Learners Advisory Network; and (7) "Learning Edge" is No Ordinary Magazine!.

Experiential and Transformational Learning Theories have strong potential for application in a setting in which academic library skills are taught. These theories imply greater immersion in the academic library environment and scholarly library research and, thus, promote a deeper understanding of information literacy than traditional methods of…

This guide provides ideas for using the book, "Anthony Burns," by Virginia Hamilton, in adult General Educational Development classes. The book tells the story of a slave who escaped to freedom, but because of the Fugitive Slave Act was returned to slavery until a benefactor bought his freedom. The paper first discusses general ideas for…

This book, which is designed to help adult educators in all settings determine the effectiveness of the teaching and learning occurring in their programs, uses real-life case studies to illustrate the application of an evaluation and accountability model based on the principles and concepts of popular education. The book begins with a preface…

In 1995, Neva M. Viise compared the spelling development of 195 child and 124 adult literacy learners by examining their spelling errors. Children and adults showed similar mastery in recognizing consonants and short vowel inclusions; however, the adults experienced much more difficulty marking syllables in words and were more likely to omit…

The purpose of this report is to provide performance data on Iowa's adult basic education (ABE) target populations based on the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) Employment Competency System Appraisal Form 130 in the areas of reading and mathematics. This report is designed to supplement the data reported in the study titled,…

Distance learning in Australia has become much more popular in the last 20 years, with off-campus study increasing by 331 percent. At Central Queensland University, approximately half of the 9,000 students enrolled are studying at a distance. In order to provide high-quality distance education, a university, through its employees, must…

This special topic issues focuses on workplace literacy. "Literacy Practices in Today's Workplace" (Larry Mikulecky) provides a picture of demands and practices in workplace literacy. "Workplace Literacy Skills: Making Reading Work for Work" (Esther Minskoff) advocates use of contextual instruction and offers guidelines for providing workplace…

This report examines the work backgrounds of students entering Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) in the fall of 1999. The report is based on results from the Entering Student Survey administered to students during the fall 1999 semester. The report presented in four sections: (1) the status, employment history, work schedules, income, and…