Illustrates the use of learners', rather than teachers', questions as well as interviews to negotiate curriculum in adult literacy and math classes. (SK)

The Life Role Inventory was completed by 136 marginalized adult basic education students. Ethnicity influenced work values and adult life-roles. Females attached greater importance to roles and values. (SK)

Two Australian projects--integrating numeracy into a construction training course and integrating literacy in rural training--illustrate the development of integrated curricula and the necessity of contextualized, multiple literacies. Literacy is not a set of generic skills to be taught in isolation, but highly specific vocational and social…

In interviews, experienced adult basic educators identified tasks in their work from which constructs emerged and were rated using Kelly's Repertory Grid. Tenets of good practice included student-centered philosophy, resistance to threats to that philosophy, an ethos of basic skills practice, reflection on practical aspects of basic skills, and…

Advocates incorporation of math and computer instruction into adult literacy programs. Describes a North Carolina tutoring program that includes computer labs. (SK)

From 1975-1985, a British adult literacy project published literacy learners' writing in a widely distributed newsletter. Although influenced by Freire, instructors struggled with issues of power, access, and editorial control. (JOW)

Factors influencing retention of African Americans in adult basic education include connection of learning and lived experiences, relevance, recognition of the value they place on education, and inclusion of polyrhythmic realities. The latter are learners' lived experiences within sociocultural, political, and historical contexts. (SK)

Increased use of practitioner research in literacy education is opening new vistas for grassroots knowledge. Such research affords new possibilities for professional growth, an improved image of literacy, and the potential to reduce illiteracy to minimal levels. (JOW)

Surveys attitudes towards and beliefs about dyslexia among Adult Basic Education (ABE) teachers and providers. Finds doubt, uncertainty and confusion about dyslexia and considerable misgiving. Discusses attribution theory and learned helplessness in the context of ABE. Argues that a diagnosis of dyslexia may be a maladaptive attribution and so…

This reports synthesizes the research literature on the challenges facing adult learners in higher education today and emerging strategies for increasing the number of adults over 24 who earn college credentials and degrees. This synthesis is meant to provide perspectives on key issues facing adults as more and more of them see the need for higher…

In this article, the author sets out something of the vision in the Government consultation paper, "Delivering World Class Skills in a Demand-led System," and looks at how this is likely to play out for adult learners. The contention of Leitch is that there is a supply-led system in education and training. The Government has planned…

This chapter focuses on the role of online educators as mentors and addresses the potential impact of a mentoring relationship on the development and persistence of adult learners in the online medium.

Minnesota Adult Basic Education (ABE) providers are mandated to use CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System) Reading or Math or TABE (Tests for Adult Basic Education) Reading or Math. This issue of "NetNews" introduces the Test Bank: a variety of informal reading, spelling, and writing assessments available for Minnesota ABE…

A study explored new approaches to teaching spelling to adult learners. The first step was to examine the research on teaching spelling to identify the spelling problems and strategies that were most successful when teaching poor spellers. These strategies were identified: use of spelling lists; correction of own tests; systematic teaching;…

In the current environment of increasing competition for shrinking resources and the dramatic changes in educational service delivery in response to recent technological advances, marketing is becoming increasingly important to the success of adult literacy programs. Individual attitudes toward marketing in the educational sector differ greatly…