The Rural Extension Centre at the University of Queensland (Australia) Gatton College provides accredited education and training for practicing rural extension professionals, from certificate to masters level, through a workplace-based program of adult learning projects and workshops. Action learning and the application of adult learning…

Thinkback is a new instructional process that uses "thinking aloud" strategies developed by Arthur Whimbey and derives its name from the technology of instant video playback. Thinkback is a generalization of techniques described in the program "Problem Solving and Comprehension," which has been used for more than 20 years. The…

This handbook is designed to identify, build, maintain, and expand teachers' personal and professional effectiveness using "MegaSkills." Section 1, "Knowing Your Leadership Strengths," focuses on identifying strengths, exploring how adults learn, and considering new dimensions for successful education. It also discusses seven habits of good…

Both the Financial Services Authority and the Basic Skills Agency are committed to supporting those individuals and organisations working to improve the financial capability of themselves and others. The development of the National Strategy for Financial Capability, coordinated by the Financial Services Authority, and the commissioning of a…

Today's youth are entering adult and vocational education with learning self-images that have been damaged, rather than strengthened, by school and early career experiences. Adult educators should devote more attention to the analysis of the life-courses of different deprived groups of individuals. Changes in the conditions of life-courses in…

Asserts that community colleges have a responsibility for all students' developmental growth. Reviews human development theories to support a Grounded Formal Theory Approach (GFTA) to redesigning the college environment to meet adult needs. Outlines the seven-step GFTA process, which comprises developmental and content theory. Provides an example…

Discusses recent trends in the field of adult language instruction in which the focus is on the individual. Individual learning strategies are discussed, with emphasis on formal practice, functional practice, inferencing, and monitoring. It is noted that adults need help in overcoming the insecurity they feel in foreign language learning. (PJM)

This study explored the cognitive style of field dependence-independence (FDI) and its relation to student attrition and performance on the General Educational Development Test and the Test of Adult Basic Education. Resultant correlations are discussed in terms of the usefulness of FDI in assessing the needs of adult learners. (Author/SK)

A study of adult learners reveals four steps of transformative change in adult life: diffusion, dissonance, differentiation, and coherence. The educational implications of these steps are explored through case studies, and it is argued that these transformative changes affect not only the individual and the nature of adult education, but the…

Lifelong learning is a movement described as real, necessary, and desirable. A major goal of higher education is seen to be the creation of an equitable learning society in which each individual is helped to become an active agent in his or her own education. (Author/MLW)

Recommends that counseling services for lifelong learners at community colleges focus on developmental needs and be integrated with other programs of the college. Discusses the personal characteristics of the counselor/educator and proposes a peer group counseling model. (JM)

The author reviews and discusses results of current adult education research in the areas of cognitive styles, learning strategies, adult learning, hemispheres of the brain, adult development stages, open learning systems, nontraditional forms of learning, social action, nature of adult participation, and other concepts. (MF)

A look at one adult literacy class in India indicated that, despite apparently ideal educational conditions, students remained almost illiterate. The author comments on the results and speculates on the reasons. (MF)

Those aspects of adult learning that require counseling rather than tuition are discussed along with the counselling skills that are distinct from teaching skills. Attention is also directed toward the allocation of time and resources in the light of student needs and pressure of part-time staff. (Author/LBH)

A study investigated late emergence, in learners of English as a Second Language, of the ability to interpret object gaps in purpose clauses (PCs). Subjects were 34 adult native speakers of French. Results indicate difficulty interpreting only PCs with prepositional object gaps, supporting the hypothesis that syntactically marked construction may…