Adult education instructors are as diverse as the students they teach. Their professional backgrounds, training, licenses, and modalities of teaching (online, in person, open vs. closed enrollment, etc.) vary widely, which can make the planning of meaningful, effective professional development challenging. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a…

This article examines the design structure and interface of online courses and explains how program-wide design standards can benefit the learner, educator, and organization as a whole. Standards in program design can help support learner success, and these examples serve as a guide when designing, updating, or improving online adult and…

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Adult and Community Learning Services Unit and UPD Consulting engaged in a multiyear partnership to provide adult education providers across the state with people-centered, action-oriented training opportunities focused on antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI). This…

A "mind, brain and education" (MBE) approach applies the best evidence regarding how people learn to real classroom settings. Much of the work in the field to date has involved child learners, but MBE is increasingly turning to the study of adult education, supported by a growing understanding of how adults and children differ in their…

One in every six adults in the United States is an immigrant. These immigrant adults contribute to the vitality of local communities and economies across the country, but many also face barriers to integration and economic mobility, including limited English proficiency, varied levels of formal education, and persistent employment in low-wage…

Volunteers are central to the delivery of 4-H programs, and providing quality, relevant training is key to volunteer success. Online, asynchronous modules are an enhancement to a training delivery menu for adult volunteers, providing consistent, accessible options traditionally delivered primarily face to face. This article describes how Minnesota…

Needs assessment is an integral part of designing instruction for adults. However, more work needs to be done to strengthen the definition and theory. Needs assessment will be served by carefully designed studies that analyze the extent and type of impact needs assessments have had on subsequent program development activities. (CT)

This article describes how the practitioners in one small adult literacy program selected particular research findings upon which to establish a core of instructional tenets. It discusses the teacher's need for such a core, useful research, and principles for adult literacy instruction. (CT)

The author argues that prison educators should concentrate on "outcomes"--the desired behavioral and attitude changes in their students. He describes an educational program that has achieved considerable success. (Author)

The author relates issues for preretirement education to a set of relevant activities, each with its own learning component. He discusses life management skills, the transition to retirement, preparation for retirement, and cultivating the desire to learn. Trends in the United Kingdom affecting retirement preparation are listed. (CT)

The work of eight learning theorists was used to evaluate a proposed adult education/learning experience in an effort to operationalize a system for locating strengths and weaknesses in an instructional system prior to its implementation. Thirty-five implications for adult education were extrapolated from work representing the Behaviorist (B.F.…

The author provides a guide to the ins and outs of JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act) for vocational educators who have not yet made the JTPA connection. Discusses the importance of private industry councils, presents a list of questions to ask when selecting providers, and various types of contract arrangements. (CT)

This article describes the work of the Supported Learning Project (SLP), a program that provided personal support and development in self-advocacy to 31 British mothers with learning disabilities. The learning gains made by the mothers, the obstacles they encountered, and the project's success are discussed. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

This document describes the multicultural Program for Deaf Adults (PDA) at LaGuardia Community College at the City University of New York. The PDA offers a comprehensive education through an extensive variety of both degree and continuing education courses. It offers basic skill courses in the academic division and, in the Division of Adult and…

Describes two vocational programs for retarded adults--a two-semester food service program and a one-semester janitorial service program. The article discusses program eligibility, financial aid, counseling, teaching philosophy and techniques, and program content. The community college's role as a resource center is also described. (CT)