At the Syracuse University Conference held at Sagamore, New York, and attended by leading adult educators, four papers focused on the latest research in the field of psychology, relevant to adult education. James E. Birren stated that while changes in physiological drive, speed, and perceptual acuity may limit the older individual's learning…

With emphasis on the developmental psychology unique to adults, the author presents a comprehensive document of research and progress pertaining to adult learning and change. Section 1 reviews age cycles of adulthood as well as changing career patterns for men and women. Also examined are changes with age in leisure and interest patterns,…

Ways in which a church can plan and carry out an adult education program are discussed in this book. Chapters deal with: (1) the church and adult education; (2) problems in developing church adult education programs--confused priorities, avoidance of controversy, dependency, communication problems, lack of meaningful study, and inadequate…

Discusses research on understanding the learning process involved in acquiring basic computer skills for nontraditional adult students. A survey is described that compares learning patterns of part-time adult students with traditional college students in introductory computer courses, and teaching recommendations for nontraditional learners are…

Describes "Language and Literature," a rigorous general education course offered at Saint Mary College (Kansas) for all nontraditional students entering a degree curriculum. Explains how the course matches the college's goals. Examines writing assignments and teaching methods. Reports on students' evaluations of the course. (DMM)

Describes a study which examined the relationship between age and achievement of adults in an instructional setting. Older (25 to 41) and younger (17 to 24) French-speaking students were compared with respect to short-term development in aural comprehension. Results suggest that achievement rate decreases with increasing age. (SED)

This study investigated the relationships between: (1) two dimensions of adult literacy instruction; and (2) change in the literacy practices of adult literacy students. The two instructional dimensions investigated were: (1) degree of authenticity of the activities and texts employed in the literacy class; and (2) degree of teacher/student…

Aimed at adult education practitioners engaged in graduate study, this book draws on the field of developmental psychology to provide new insights into the critical connections between experience and learning in adult education and training. Chapter 1 introduces the role of psychological development in adult learning, investment of "self" in…

These four newsletters focus on issues related to adult basic education and the challenges faced when teaching adult learners. The first issue looks at the characteristics of learning disabilities, providing information to help teachers determine whether a learner has a learning disability and who might be appropriately referred for testing. The…

This paper discusses motivation of adult learners. The first section discusses the adult learner, including the concepts of andragogy and pedagogy, as well as student-centered learning. The second section summarizes changing student demographics and predictions. The third section presents principles of adult learning. The fourth section covers…

Secondary and postsecondary vocational teachers in Minnesota were asked their preferences in format, time, and provider of special-needs related inservice activities. Most popular choices, respectively, were workshops, the professional days option, and expert teachers. (SK)

A personal assessment of changing attitudes about the skills required in the teaching of adults, gained from over 30 years' experience in one extramural department, is offered. Teacher-performer, narrative techniques, group discussion, small group learning, communication, and discovery learning are discussed. (MLW)

Considers why the use of story in literacy education is central to critical adult literacy practice, and examines both its potential and limitations. The use of story in the form of student-written and student-produced autobiographies in general, and one student's story in particular, is explored. The value of publishing learners' stories is…

In this paper, the authors develop a conceptual framework for exploring the notion of "translating the art of citizenship." They then consider two particular examples from their work as university teachers which illustrate how they are trying to translate the art of citizenship by developing a more expressive pedagogy of citizenship. First, a CD…

The article argues that Norton Peirce's (1995) concept of a language learner's investment should figure centrally in how instructors address the needs of adult learners in ESL classrooms. Investment is discussed in relation to second language acquisition research that addresses the role of social factors in second language acquisition. The article…