Use of ethnographic methods to assess learning and staff development needs for workplace adult education programs is discussed, focusing on the teacher's role as ethnographic researcher. Four stages of ethnographic research are identified: (1) open-ended, inductive study; (2) structured observation; (3) analysis; and (4) speculation and sharing of…

A collaborative study was conducted by representatives of the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce, the University of Maryland University College, and Prince George's Community College to identify the training and professional development activities most desired by county business leaders. Surveys were mailed to 5,000 of the 15,125 businesses…

The Department of Vocational and Technical Education at the University of Minnesota explored the possibility of incorporating an emphasis on training and development into existing programs. Activities undertaken to determine the need for such a program included extensive interviews with training and development personnel in the Minneapolis/St.…

This guidebook presents a collaborative or team-based model of workplace basic education. It is written particularly for practitioners--the adult educators and company and union representatives who do the work of planning, carrying out, and evaluating basic skills-related activities in the workplace. Chapter 1 provides background, assumptions that…

This guide is designed for managers and supervisors so they can quickly understand the meaning of systematic training and of the practical steps to take to make training efficient. It is useful as a checklist for those responsible for organizing or advising on training and as a basis for meetings, training sessions, and discussions on systematic…

This guide for adult educators provides a general model for establishing and maintaining Adult Basic Education (ABE)-in-Industry programs. The model encompasses eight components, including the industry program and ABE program. The handbook, however, skips the two programs and begins with the industry and ABE agreement component, devoting a chapter…

Designed to familiarize experienced and qualified basic skills tutors and coordinators with issues of teaching basic skills in the workplace in Great Britain, this course can be delivered by experienced workplace basic skills training program coordinators. It can be delivered over three days or as six half-day sessions. Each of the four units…

This guidebook highlights important components involved in establishing and monitoring a successful workplace education program (WEP). Chapter 1, Workplace Education, addresses the changing educational workplace; recognizing need for workplace education; and a new educational model for workplace learning that focuses on integration of basic…

This guide provides information on basic skills needs and programs in the workplace and issues affecting basic skills provision from a British perspective. Section 1 aims to provide a context for workplace basic skills provision. Sections 2-7 provide practical suggestions and advice on the following topics: (1) marketing; (2) contacting employers;…

This handbook was designed to provide information necessary for school teachers/administrators to develop an effective and thorough short-term adult upgrade program plan for businesses and to provide advice and suggestions for implementing the plan. The guide is organized in seven sections, plus extensive appendixes. The first section introduces…

This handbook capsulizes the many steps in developing, implementing, and evaluating a workplace literacy program, and is written from the perspectives of both the educator and the employer. The handbook has been written for business leaders and for adult basic education and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) educators. While the suggestions in the…

An 8-week English in the Workplace course was conducted by Portland Community College (Oregon) at Leupold & Stevens, Inc. for workers with limited English proficiency (LEP). The curriculum for English as a Second Language focused on job-related support skills and not primary job skills, since job performance was not a concern. Objectives were…

Workplace literacy projects were established at Warn Industries, a winch and hubcap maker, and Oregon Cutting Systems (OCS), a producer of cutting edges supplying the timber industry by Clackamas Community College (Oregon). At Warn, project staff developed functional context materials, delivered instruction to a math class, and implemented a basic…

Leupold & Stevens, Inc. and Portland Community College (Oregon) cooperated in offering special math instruction as part of a workplace literacy project. A needs assessment indicated a problem in basic math skills such as simple calculations on a calculator and decimals, which were used on blueprints. Operators, set-up workers, and lead workers…

Interviews with managers and other staff were used to assess the communication and language development needs of limited-English-proficient (LEP) workers at Lattice Works of Oregon (LWO) Corporation. Task analysis was used by Portland Community College (Portland) to develop a curriculum for twice-weekly classes held before or after shift changes.…