This issue contains five articles about assessment in adult literacy programs. The first article, "Living Literacy: Rethinking Adult Learner Assessment" (Susan L. Lytle), focuses on developing alternative forms of assessment such as literacy portfolios to identify changes in four dimensions of adult literacy over the course of literacy…

The experience of eight prominent Canadian business organizations was examined in terms of how basic skills deficits are identified in their work force, the impact of those deficiencies on organizational competitiveness, and why corporate programs are developed in response to the issue. Some of the key findings were as follows: (1) employee…

A workplace literacy project was conducted cooperatively through the Minnesota Teamsters Service Bureau and Northeast Metro Technical College. Project objectives, which were met, included the following: (1) establishing a project steering committee; (2) developing workplace literacy curriculum materials and resources specific to commercial vehicle…

Six curriculum modules for Just Desserts, a San Francisco wholesale bakery company, are presented. Just Desserts was one of four small businesses involved in Project EXCEL, a workplace literacy project that focused on literacy and basic skills training for limited-English-proficient (LEP) workers. The modules are as follows: (1) Bakery Vocabulary…

This workplace literacy curriculum is based on neuropsychological brain behavior research and the principles of continuous improvement in a learning environment. Section 1 explains the choice of this model. Section 2 defines the need for this type of workplace curriculum. Sections 3 and 4 discuss the method of building the thematic units and…

A 10-week course called "Communiclearsory" Training was developed to improve the written and oral communications skills of supervisors/foremen in the manufacturing trades. A total of 39 selected supervisors from 2 manufacturing industries in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, were assessed by using the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)…

This document contains the five papers presented at a meeting at which key issues in evaluating workplace literacy programs were discussed. In "Key Components of Workplace Liteacy Projects and Definitions of Project 'Modules,'" Judith A. Alamprese describes the context for evaluating the National Extension Program, components of workplace literacy…

In the winter of 1994, selected planners and coordinators of Canadian labor-based literacy programs were interviewed regarding the evolution of and concerns surrounding labor-based literacy and/or basic skills programs for union members. It was discovered that the impetus for labor-based literacy programs has generally come from the local and…

A survey of Local 343-United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America and the Manitoba Construction Labour Relations Association, Manitoba, determined the critical, essential, and important workplace skills of carpenters. A survey instrument was developed and mailed to 438 active members of Local 343; 110 surveys were completed and…

Developed by educators from the Emily Griffith Opportunity School with input from employees--both workplace literacy students and nonstudents--this guide contains activities for teaching health and hygiene on the job. Flowing from a perspective of respecting cultural diversity and guided by a common thread of good work practices, the activities…

This set of learning modules was developed during a project to deliver workplace literacy instruction to individuals employed in the more than 50 businesses related to the activities of the Port of Baltimore. It is intended to prepare students for the Customs Brokers examination within a 6-week course period. Actual material from past Customs…

This set of learning modules was developed during a project to deliver workplace literacy instruction to individuals employed in the more than 50 businesses related to the activities the activities of the Port of Baltimore. It is intended to help employees in port businesses develop team building and problem-solving skills. The following topics…

Any proposal for training has to satisfy two major components: it must be job relevant and be accomplished without major interruption of work schedules, while incorporating strategies to help eliminate absenteeism. One recently developed model for basic skills training, the Immersion Instructional Model, meets these criteria and provides…

The National Workplace Literacy Project described in this report was a cooperative effort between Piedmont Community College (Roxboro, North Carolina) and two textile manufacturing industries, the Cavel Division of Collins & Aikman Corporation (Roxboro), and the Burlington House Division of Burlington Industries (Burlington, North Carolina).…

Some good news and some bad news can be seen in six areas of workplace literacy efforts: awareness, curriculum development, collaboration, staff training, research and evaluation, and funding. The good news includes the following: (1) more highly placed corporation executives are becoming aware of the need for literacy programs; (2) curriculum…