Investigates the role of language in adult numeracy classrooms, utilizing the resources of systemic functional linguistics and constructs derived from conversational analysis and ethnomethodology to examine how these classrooms are constructed in discourse. The study characterizes these classrooms as mixed-mode discourse sites and examines how…

Sixteen external-degree adult students were interviewed during their first year of study to examine the nature of academic self-concept in distance education. It was determined that academic self-concept was related to both the process and the content of learning and that modifications in educational practices can potentially enhance learners'…

Explores alternative arrangements for adult access to higher education in England and Wales, France, and Germany, and examines the impact of such arrangements on the relationship between the state and higher education. Draws on Weiler's theory of compensatory legitimation to explain why the noise about such policy innovations is louder than the…

Examines the relationship between individual variables and the progress in English as a Second Language (ESL) among Kurdish and Bosnian adult immigrants living in Canada. Findings reveal significant correlations between the dependent variables of oral and written progress and the independent variables of literacy level, years of schooling, and…

A survey of adult students in an independent course (n=180) involving printed study guides, readings, and noncompulsory lectures showed that printed materials were a disincentive to developing deep learning strategies; students did not feel part of the university culture; they were preoccupied with assessment and had weak independent research…

Discusses challenges facing community colleges related to economic development; changes in workforce needs; and changing student characteristics, including increasing numbers of adult students. Describes efforts at Florida's Valencia Community College to address these challenges by becoming more learner-centered. Highlights efforts to link…

Reports on two studies that compared adult students' responses to, and recall from, hypermedia materials with and without integrated video segments. Results suggest that embedded video can enhance learning from hypermedia: (1) video adds an affective dimension that makes hypermedia materials more meaningful; and (2) video is presented in a more…

Surveys the professional characteristics of instructors teaching English as a Second Language to adults in non-credit programs in Ontario. Findings describe the teachers' age and gender, educational backgrounds and professional qualifications, teaching experience, employment conditions and opportunities for professional development. (eight…

Describes Australian Catholic University's indigenous education program that was developed to serve the education needs of mature-aged Aboriginal people, particularly to train teachers and assistants. Topics include course delivery, a model for supported learning using information technology, user characteristics;, interactivity, organizational…

Describes the Pursuit of Learning in Society (POLIS) program at Illinois' Quincy University Institute, part of the Institute for Learning in Retirement, which provides senior citizens with noncredit college courses. Highlights the students' role in structuring courses and activities. Discusses the educational and social benefits derived from such…

Explores the types of annotations intermediate and advanced English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learners preferred to use while they were engaged in reading a hypermedia text. Also investigated learners' attitudes towards reading in a hypermedia environment. Participants were 84 adult ESL learners. Participants indicated the hypermedia environment…

Presents a definition and a brief explanation of the anatomy and physiology of dyslexia. Provides some background about the difficulties of diagnosis. Addresses the following topics: (1) dyslexics' success at the undergraduate level; (2) symptoms that instructors and advisors should look for; and (3) appropriate tactics for working with dyslexics.…

Describes how a teacher achieved professional renewal through teaching adult education class in a federal prison. Notes that it may be easier to create hospitable space and a sense of community in an inmate classroom than in any other kind. (RS)

Increasingly, state officials are dealing with the financial needs of the fastest-growing segment of the higher education market by expanding their financial aid programs to working people, parents, and students with disabilities who must attend college part time. (MLW)

Engaging adult students who are part-time learners requires a particular effort to integrate academic learning with the rest of their lives. Single-loop learning and double-loop learning, concepts from the work of Argyris and Schon (1974), are described. (MLW)