A 2014 study found that more than half of all Americans aged 16-74 do not possess the literacy skills needed to adequately cope with the demands of day-to-day life, with over 13 million people in the United States alone considered to be functionally illiterate. There have been numerous efforts to address these high illiteracy rates by way of Adult…

The focus of the Technology Solutions for Adult Basic Skills Challenges column is common challenges of adult basic skills practitioners, expressed, for example, in the Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS) Integrating Technology group for which, David Rosen is the moderator, in other LINCS groups, in his national and state…

The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) is a private, nonprofit organization with over 50 years' experience in the application of research on language and culture to educational and societal concerns. CAL carries out its mission to improve communication through better understanding of language and culture by engaging in a variety of projects in…

As video-based instructional materials become available to distance learners to learn practical skills at a distance, it is important to assess the instructional effectiveness of these materials and to understand how students respond to them. This paper is the second part of a larger exploratory study that assessed the instructional effectiveness…

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) Adult Literacy Project is described in terms of the radio and television programs, supplemental workbooks, telephone services, and tutor training programs it is developing. The basic aim of the project is to encourage adult illiterates to seek individualized help. (LH)

A project in adult basic education was established in the Model Neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware. A delivery system of services using paraprofessionals was created to give eligible adults individualized instruction in their home or a nearby center. The results showed that most of the project enrollment and performance objectives were met. Data…

Ten English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs have been selected as examples of effective ESL programs across the state of Pennsylvania. For each program identified, the following information is provided: a general description of the program; information about the program's instructional methods and materials; and highlights of special features…

Describes the adult metric education workshops, instructional materials, and teaching approaches for adults developed by the American College Testing Program in Project Metric to provide the adult consumer with metric skills. Includes an example of objectives from the adult metric kit. (MF)

Described are five programs currently serving over 400 mentally retarded or emotionally disturbed adults offered through the department of continuing education of Pontiac, Michigan. Each of the programs is briefly summarized including name, address, and phone number; number of students; courses offered; staff; and interagency cooperation. Also…

This manual for administrators and instructors accompanies the Learning Individualized for Canadians (LINC) courses of individually prescribed instruction in communications and in mathematics for adult learners. Information is given on the background of the LINC program, objectives, components, the individualized process, procedures for curriculum…

The author describes the development of individualized instruction programs for adults in various areas of vocational education, including the use of advisory committees to identify occupational skills, preparing learning activity packages (LAPS) for the programs, and installation and operation of the programs in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (MF)

Designed to increase awareness of family literacy programs, this project report deals with definitions of literacy, the research base, typology of family and intergenerational literacy programs, and evaluation of these programs. The report is designed to be a resource for teachers/practitioners and administrators/funders of family literacy…

Reported are the activities of a project in Wisconsin aimed at modifying programs providing inservice and instructional materials to vocational, technical, and adult education districts to allow participation by handicapped students. Section I provides a summary of project activities, including workshops, collection of materials, publications,…

Discusses a science curriculum designed for nonscience adult students with emphases upon topics in astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology, biology, social sciences, and philosophy. Indicates that rather sophisticated instructional materials can be used in this course when presented in a manner that takes into account students' strengths and…