Responses of students in an adult development course who wrote five chapters of their life stories suggest that autobiographical writing leads adults through a process of self-exploration and meaning making. The result is a transformed view of themselves and their world. (SK)

Investigates the relationship between phonological awareness and spelling in adults. Finds (1) spelling-sound mapping skills to be important; (2) a relationship between phonological awareness and spelling-sound correspondence; and (3) moderate correlation between orthographic tasks and spelling performance. (NH)

Summarizes four theoretical perspectives on transformative learning as consciousness raising, critical reflection, development, and individuation. (SK)

Reviews dissertation and thesis research that explores adult women's perspectives on their own learning. Key themes include personal development, ways of knowing, and marginality. One concern is the lack of any coherent line of research on women's learning. Discusses implications for practice and further research. (EMK)

Depicts older adult learning through a typology with four categories: credentialing, convenience (distance education and programmed instruction), socialization, and personal interests. Describes offerings ranging from credit to noncredit, teacher to learner directed. (SK)

Community-based agencies (extension, women's association, public health department) initiated a health promotion project using adult learning approaches (experiential learning, storytelling, and networking) to enable participants to examine their experiences of health and factors affecting health in their communities. Assessment tools were…

Popular beliefs about women as learners include the significance of relationship or connection and their presumed preference for subjective and affective ways of learning. Understanding gender as a form of social relations is an informative way to identify and question beliefs about gender and learning. (SK)

Interviews with eight adult students who completed portfolios illustrate how the process increased their awareness of professional accomplishments, enabled self-discovery and empowerment, helped them recognize the influence of mentors, and fostered deeper reflection. Results show how portfolios can promote holistic learning by connecting learning,…

The Irish government's white paper on education expresses commitment to equality, partnership, pluralism, accountability, and quality. Especially important for adult education is an integrated approach for education and training agencies. The most serious gap is failure to provide realistic cost estimates or funding commitments. (SK)

Assessment of achievement seemingly conflicts with the adult education principle of the intrinsic value of learning. Assessment and accreditation can support adult learning if the curriculum is based on learner needs and if assessment and accreditation are based on the needs of the curriculum. (SK)

Offers practical strategies to be used by educators of adult student teachers, such as training for mutual support, inviting voluntary collaboration, replacing "knowing everything" with warmth, and celebrating the dissonance. (JOW)

Reviews concepts of meaning making in classical and contemporary writing. Examines models of cognitive and ego development linked with meaning making and draws a model of the relationship of meaning making to adult learning and development. (SK)

Malaysian adults aged 60-83 (n=19) were interviewed about aging and learning activites. They primarily engaged in nonformal and experiential learning. Learning was communal and religious/spiritual in orientation; it was shaped by cultural context and values. (SK)

Interviews with 40 members of an organization providing continuing education for retired professionals explored their sense of self and identity as an older student, the challenges of aging and learning, and the value and use of life experiences in learning. (SK)

A group of Jewish women used collaborative inquiry techniques of action-reflection, holistic ways of knowing, emotional probing, and validity procedures to explore their experience of internalized oppression. They used healing strategies such as storytelling, songs, art, movement, and theatre in the transformative process. (SK)