Organizations and groups responsible for the bulk of the nation's adult basic skills provision are currently reaching an estimated 9-10 percent of the needy population. This represents an increase from the 7-8 percent reached in 1984. Adult Basic Education (ABE), the largest single program in the nation, has shown an overall growth in enrollment…

Literacy trends among Black adults in the Republic of South Africa and in some Black states in southern Africa were determined from data obtained from population census reports from 1946 to 1970. Problems concerning the determination of literacy statistics included differing definitions of literacy and data that were subjective, difficult to…

The many advantages claimed for using the computer in adult literacy instruction--privacy, immediate feedback, individualization, control, and flexibility--have also been observed in the practice of dedicated teachers, without the help of computers. Fortunately, many scholars still emphasize the need for teacher sensitivity and teacher-student…

A study of the philosophies and practices of community-based literacy programs focused on their nature, characteristics, and needs. Five activities were conducted: determination of criteria for defining literacy programs as community-based; program identification; survey and interview of program directors; meetings and follow-up conversations with…

This annotated bibliography contains 36 references on teaching methods and instructional strategies in the field of adult literacy found in the ERIC database. It contains citations from the period between 1987 and 1989 and is divided into two sections. The first section lists sources for instruction and training, while the second section contains…

This booklet provides guidelines for setting up workplace programs to strengthen employee basic skills. It is intended to help employers who are contemplating the establishment of basic skills training programs and those with programs already in place who seek to improve their current designs. Part I addresses the basic skills problem in the…

A qualitative study examined the way in which literacy is perceived by illiterate adults. To identify the perceptions of illiterate adults toward literacy, researchers conducted in-depth unstructured interviews with 40 illiterate native English speaking adults living in a northeastern urban area. Half the members of the study sample are currently…

Adult illiteracy is a complex, costly, and growing social problem. Three common areas of controversy related to the problem are: (1) definitions of adult literacy, (2) characteristics of illiterate adults, and (3) the purposes of literacy education. Illiteracy can be understood only in relation to a culture's definition of literacy. Due to…

Intended for current or prospective teachers of illiterate adults, this book highlights both some motivational and environmental factors that may particularly affect the classroom performance of adult remedial readers and the areas where the backgrounds, experiences, and expectations of teachers and learners are apt to differ. Following an…

TWELVE RESEARCH REVIEWS IN THIS ISSUE PERTAIN TO YOUTH AND ADULTS UNEMPLOYED OR AT WORK, ONE OF THE MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN IDENTIFIED BY THE PANEL OF CONSULTANTS ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. THEY ARE ORGANIZED UNDER THE TOPICS--(1) EXPANDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WHICH INCLUDES PATTERNS OF ADULT INFORMATION SEEKING, PREDICTION OF…

A 1962-64 study conducted by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) utilized questionnaires to gather data from 94 United Nations Member States, Associate Members, and territories. The following information was sought: (1) size of rural populations; (2) educational opportunities for rural populations; (3)…

Schools have come under sharp criticism for their apparent ineffectiveness in reading instruction, due to interpretations of recent functional literacy survey results. Several of the major surveys are examined in this document, and in some cases their data are reanalyzed to answer additional questions. The conclusion reached from this examination…

This study was conducted to develop a periodical that would encourage the formation of reading habits in developing nations where illiteracy exceeds 40%. A so-called Flexible Format was designed and tested among the literate Sindebele population of Matabeleland, Rhodesia, to see if it would prove as acceptable as, or more acceptable than, a…

Attending this 1969 conference on adult basic education were representatives from not only the Ozarks and Appalachian regions but also areas ranging from southern New York State to Mississippi and Louisiana, west to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, and as far north as Illinois. Governor Winthrop Rockefeller spoke on "The Challenges of…

Developed for use in a manpower development and training program, these curriculum materials include: (1) occupationally-related language arts and mathematics courses of study (Appendixes A-J), (2) occupationally-related remedial lesson materials for native born illiterates and non-English speaking trainees (Appendixes K-O), and (3) discussion…