Despite the transition requirements of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and a growing body of research in support of effective transition planning for learners with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), many adults on the spectrum remain without employment in large numbers. Even for those generally regarded as most capable, they…

Increasingly, urban and rural centers in Canada are receiving immigrants and refugees from countries affected by war. While it is important not to pathologize the effects that war and other catastrophes may have on individuals, it is also vital not to underestimate their impact on the ability of individuals to adjust to life in a new society. The…

This study investigated the differences between demographic, enrollment, academic, and self-directed learning characteristics of completers and noncompleters in online courses at one community college. The study also obtained students' self-reported reasons for not completing their coursework. No significant differences were found in the…

Although programs for teaching and testing of English as a second language (ESL) are often evaluated for their attention to communicative competence, there is no consensus on the nature of the communicative competence construct(s) and little empirical support for the various explanatory models. The theoretical literature related to communicative…

A study was conducted to obtain measurements of adult student attitudes using the Mattering Scales for Adult Students in Higher Education (MHE). The MHE is designed to assess the perceptions of adult learners about their learning environment. The purpose of the scale is to learn more about the different ways in which adult learners feel they…

The rapid influx of nontraditional students is drastically altering the complexion of teacher preparation programs. The purpose of this study was to identify how the nontraditional student teacher compares to the traditional student teacher regarding concerns about elementary classroom teaching, and to recognize any differences in concerns about…

A portfolio is a folder assembled by the learner, containing samples of the learner's work collected over a period of time. The kinds of items reflect the nature of the course content. Each individual who decides to use a portfolio approach must develop unique expectations, guidelines for content, and assessment criteria suitable for the purpose…

This anthology/textbook is part of a Mexican series of instructional materials designed for Spanish speaking adults who are in the process of becoming literate or have recently become literate in their native language. This document presents a collection of works from important writers directed to the population of Baja California, especially to…

This manual is part of a Mexican series of instructional materials designed for Spanish speaking adults who are in the process of becoming literate or have recently become literate in their native language. Its objective is to strengthen reading and writing skills while teaching basic nutrition and food preparation techniques. The manual provides…

A path analytic study examined the effects of career decision-making self-efficacy on the retention of underprepared adults in postsecondary education. The initial sample consisted of 418 underprepared students enrolled in the developmental education unit of a large midwestern urban university who had been subjects of a 1991 study and who…

The Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) is a widely used multiple-choice test battery of basic skills in reading, language, and mathematics. The Test of Applied Literacy Skills (TALS) is an applied literacy battery consisting of document, prose, and quantitative literacy tests. The central issue in this study was the relationship of the TABE and…

A study was conducted to determine the attitudes of adult learners toward the Board of Governors (BOG) bachelor's degree program at Chicago State University. The study also examined characteristics and types of adult learners, availability and kinds of services adult learners want, relevance of coursework, biases from campus officials toward…

The new ACT College Outcomes Survey was used with a national sample of 9,348 undergraduate students to evaluate the effects of the college environment on academic and intellectual development. It compared the outcomes for adult learners with those for younger students. An index score was created that considered both the progress the students…

This curriculum guide, developed by an adult basic education program for disadvantaged women, provides methods for teaching mathematical concepts and operations including whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents. The curriculum illustrates methods and activities that bridge the gap between numerals (the symbols of mathematical…

A pilot project evaluated the learning experience of adults taking one of seven creative writing courses in Edinburgh, Scotland (five courses run by Edinburgh University's Centre for Continuing Education and two run by Lothian Region Community Education). Data were obtained from a survey completed by 45 students (of 87 students receiving…