During the past 40 years, the definition of literacy and the needs of adult literacy education have changed. Before World War II, adult literacy programs usually focused on teaching totally illiterate adults to read and write at the simplest levels. Later, functional literacy at about the fifth grade level was promoted through the programs. Now,…

A study of 32 public and 25 private randomly selected providers of adult education in Scotland focused on their policies toward adult participants and the extent to which the organizations cater to adults. Data were collected from principals, deputy principals, agency managers, and other senior staff throughout Scotland but were concentrated…

This guide for selecting library materials for residents of state institutions is designed to help the institutional librarian who has special groups to serve and who does not have access to standard acquisition tools. The first section lists what information is necessary to order materials, provides samples of filled-in order forms, and mentions…

A computer system using interactive videodisc was developed and used by the American Heart Association to teach nursing students and others cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Two studies were made of the use of the system. Between September 1982 and April 1983, 48 participants received CPR instruction by interactive videodisc and 51 by…

A study assessed the validity of the hypothesis that offshore drilling personnel would independently study important material if they knew that they would eventually receive formal training on the topic covered in the material. Eighty-one crew members on an offshore drilling rig were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Those in…

The Personal Adult Learning Lab was establsiehd at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education (GCCE) at the University of Georgia to serve self-directed adult learners and conduct research on self-directed learning. The lab allows adult learners to design, conduct, and evaluate their personal learning experiences while proceeding at their own…

This paper provides a brief overview of some of the current thought on teaching problem-solving and decision-making skills and presents selected exercises that have been used successfully in a graduate course in problem-solving and decision-making strategies. In addition to learning theories that are presented in order to help learners understand…

This instructional module on human development aspects of aging is one in a block of 10 modules designed to provide the human services worker who works with older adults with basic information regarding the aging process. An introduction provides an overview of the module content. A listing of general objectives follows. Two sections present…

This student study guide is one of three documents in the emergency medical services (EMS) instructor training program. This study guide is designed as a training aid for the student. It provides an overview of the objectives and content of each course lesson and includes study suggestions to aid trainees in achieving course objectives. The…

Although information has become the core focus of society, independent learners are bypassing the educational institutions that have responsibility for creating, storing, and disseminating information. One contribution educational institutions can make to independent learners is to teach them the processes by which to gain access to and make…

This report presents the findings from a study to describe how Americans in transition study for college credit and to establish the extent of degree versus nondegree study. Introductory materials discuss why and how the study was made and the annual rate of adult credit study. Part I describes the demographic characteristics of the 1,000 adults…

The concept of andragogy is posited on four key assumptions about adult learners that distinguish them from child learners and that thus abrogate the premises upon which traditional pedagogy is based. In traditional pedagogy, the role of the learner is one of dependency. Andragogy, on the other hand, recognizes the deep psychological need of…

One of the perennial problems with universal education is the diversity in achievement it brings to the average classroom. Educational structures are needed that not only accept individual differences but also offer explicit recognition of their value to a democratic society. Young people growing up in the information society are going to have to…

This fact sheet offers guidelines to consider when developing educational programs for adults. Characteristics of adults which affect learning are discussed under the following headings: adult life cycle; time orientation geared toward immediacy; broad base of experience; independent self-concept; and social roles. The importance of allowing…

A study attempted to identify the adult learning provisions, demographic characteristics, and previous learning experiences that are predictive of positive affective development by external (distance education) students. The study population consisted of 50 adult students who were currently enrolled in 10 tertiary institutions as external students…