Vocational education for adult educators should be based on understanding of adult education's philosophical orientations; respect for persons; sensitivity to students' prior experiences, expectations, and sociocultural background; and responsiveness to students as adults. Vocational education programs that are liberal in philosophical orientation…

Discusses a broad spectrum of role expectations and negative assumptions thrust upon the communications consultant hired to teach business communication to adult employees of companies. Suggests useful tactics to deal with these behaviors. (SR)

Models of counseling and training that are sensitive to adult developmental needs are necessary. Peer coaching is being implemented within a traditional counselor training program at California State University. This program integrates the concepts of mentoring and developmental career counseling to promote the career and educational development…

Explored the relationship between personality type and self-directedness in learning in 76 adult degree students. Results showed two personality dimensions strongly correlated with self-directed learning: an intuitive approach toward information gathering and a judging orientation toward subsequent action in the outer world. (Author/ABL)

Describes the application of case analysis to a learner-centered microcomputer-based instructional model. Topics discussed include the use of computer-based case analysis with adult students; case planning; and two sample cases, one a decision-making model and one a technical model. (21 references) (LRW)

A British study of teacher training and staff development needs concluded that there is an urgent need for training community education program coordinators; tutors working with adults with learning disabilities need a foundational training program; and providers should ensure that disability issues are addressed at all stages and levels of staff…

Professionalization, accreditation, and a shift in government support toward work-based skills mean that learner-centered literacy learning is in danger of being subordinated to unsatisfactory purposes in order to retain funding. (SK)

Interviews with black adult students in higher education in Britain found them unhappy with ethnocentrism in the curriculum, instructors who are either racist or ignore race issues, lack of black staff, and lack of employment prospects. Black adult learners are increasingly questioning institutional commitment while experiencing institutional…

Researchers examined adult women's unique experiences in becoming students, investigating the varied circumstances among women whose life transitions led them to the university versus those who did not experience significant life changes. Surveys indicated that being in life status transition caused most of the women to seek out higher education.…

Presents a technique for dividing the teaching/learning process into microcomponents to ease transition to self-direction. The component checklist includes assessing needs, setting goals, specifying content, pacing, selecting instructional methods, controlling the learning environment, promoting reflection, determining the instructor's role, and…

Includes "Old Dilemmas and New Policies" (Herrington); "Dyslexia and Adult Basic Education" (Lankshear); "Specific Learning Difficulties" (Walker); "Moving Forward in Further Education (FE)" (Chappell); "An FE Student's Experience of Assessment" (Waterhouse); "Out of the Frying Pan..."…

University administrators and accreditation bodies must reexamine the notion that everyone who graduates must complete the same requirements. There is now a different student body, and changes in the delivery of general courses must be considered. (JOW)

The use of the summary in academic reading as an important study skill was studied with a group of 20 master's students in educational psychology. The hypothesis was that preparing a summary of a specialized text would reflect a student's ability to work with such texts in real life. (10 references) (LB)

Adult learners have a wide range of motives and enrollment often stimulates interest in further education. Open college networks enable collaboration, enhance adult access and progression, and encourage targeting to specific learner needs, enabling flexibility and responsiveness. (SK)

The traditions of mainstream undergraduate study and adult education are facing the same challenges as mature students become undergraduates and young people attend continuing education courses. One approach would combine the academic rigor and sustained study of the university tradition with the flexibility and creativity characteristic of adult…