Tanzania inherited a basically illiterate population that is largely rural. Hence, Tanzania is according top priority to rural development. Education is a vital input but its impact depends not only on the quality and relevance of the education given but also on its interaction with complementary inputs in agriculture, small-scale industry,…

Faced with the need to solve the problem of adult illiteracy, Poland has taken measures to provide workers under forty years of age with a complete primary education and full professional skills. In this article, these measures are described, including functional literacy needs, integrating vocational and general education, and designing…

This article describes the challenges and recommendations that have been made to ensure that Asian American students with limited English proficiency are assimilated into the educational mainstream. The need for Asian staff, improved research efforts, secondary school programs, teacher assistance, and parent education are discussed. (JL)

Reviews some of the current definitions of literacy and suggests that an expansion of the definitions is needed, based on information gained from interviews with adult remedial readers as they describe their reading needs. (SKC)

Aphasic (N=15) and non-brain-damaged adults were administered the Nelson Reading Skills Test (NRST). NRST items requiring complex inferences were more difficult than items requiring simple or no inferences. Passage dependency level was higher compared to other tests, suggesting that the NRST more validly measures aphasics' multiple-sentence…

Examination of the library-learner dynamic within an environment of change defines literacy broadly and relates it to educational design. Libraries are placed within overall structure of the national education system and resulting cooperative efforts are described, as well as attributes of the adult and related stages of life development. (EM)

Discusses a demonstration project conducted by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science to transfer reading development technology developed by the military to adult literacy education. The development and testing of a computer-assisted instruction program for language skills in two library sites and plans for expanded testing…

Investigates the fear underlying most adult illiteracy and suggests the need for teaching based on careful and imaginative responses to adult basic readers. (MM)

NCSALL's (National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy's) Practitioner Dissemination and Research Network (PDRN) set out to create and support systematic partnerships between practitioners and university researchers to better connect research and practice, with the ultimate outcome of improved practice, policy, and services for…

This brief is written for the practitioners: teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum writers, and program administrators who work with adult English language students in English as a second language (ESL) classes or in mixed adult basic education ABE classes (with native English speakers and English language learners). If educators are not…

This study circle was created by the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL). The study circle is part of NCSALL's efforts to help connect research and practice in the field of adult basic education and adult literacy. The Adult Student Persistence Study Circle is one of a series of study circles that NCSALL has…

While the majority of adults who take the General Educational Development (GED) test do so in order to continue their education, few go on to enter postsecondary education. Yet, these same adults stand to make substantial economic and personal gains when they use their adult secondary credential to move from the ranks of high school dropout to…

Focus on Basics is the quarterly publication of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. It presents best practices, current research on adult learning and literacy, and how research is used by adult basic education teachers, counselors, program administrators, and policymakers. Focus on Basics is dedicated to connecting…

This theme issue of a newsletter for adult literacy practitioners focuses on community development. Nine articles on this topic include the following: "Adult Literacy and Community Development" (Hal Beder); "Why Community Development?" (Kirk Baker); "Freire's Revolution" (Ruth Pelz); "Impacting Communities…

Designed as a reference for teaching mathematics in the workplace, this manual presents teaching strategies and activities for beginning, intermediate, and advanced learners in four mathematics-related topics. Following an overview of the manual's purpose, definitions are provided of the three skill levels targeted by the activities. Strategies…