The main effort during the reporting period was focused on Projects A and B of the research proposal. The aim of Project A is to develop strategic disposition tests for determining individual competence and preferred learning style. The aim of Project B is to examine the relationships between individual competence and performance on a task under…

Discusses examples of community-based, performance-oriented community college programs, those emphasizing mastery of identified competencies, rather than grades or degrees. Outlines requirements for developing performance-oriented modules, which include establishing course scope and units of knowledge to be progressively mastered. (AYC)

Comparison of normal-speaking (N=20) and misarticulating (N=20) four- to six-year-olds and adults (N=16) revealed that adults were significantly more accurate in detecting mispronunciations than either group of children, while performance between the two groups of children was similar. Words that children found most difficult were also those on…

Details a study of learning involvement among adults through interviews with 41 males over 25 enrolled at a small New England community college. Interviews revealed that in the preceding year respondents completed an average of seven learning projects, spending 285 hours on each, and that 56 percent of the projects were self-directed. (DMM)

Reports on a study of the influence of cognitive/affective variables on the second language learning ability of adults. Two variables, field independence and ambiguity tolerance, were found to be significant predictors of English as a second language proficiency for international students studying in the United States. (SED)

This article looks at the problems and challenges of distance education. It examines the history of distance education and the predominance of technology. It explores the role of the educator and the learner and their interrelationship. It also concentrates on techniques that provide structure and dialogue between learner and educator. (CT)

The article argues the case for greater attention being paid to parents as lifelong learners, whether they pursue knowledge consciously or unconsciously, whether they are highly motivated or learn merely to survive through frequent rapid changes. She discusses parenting characteristics, transition to parenthood, content of parent education,…

Describes the results of a survey of rehabilitation centers to determine evaluation methods for possible alexia (the loss of ability to read that results from a brain injury) and presents some suggestions for rehabilitative testing and teaching materials. (HOD)

The administrative and pedagogical difficulties of implementing a communicative approach in a university French program are outlined, including student language needs and expectations, program organization and content, and implementing appropriate situations and practices. The question of whether a student can attain bilingualism at this level…

This paper offers a survey developed as part of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy's Professional Development Study. Most of the questions in this survey were tested with 100 adult education and literacy teachers in the New England area; a few changes have been made to this version to correct poorly worded questions…

The purpose of this research was to describe the status of and factors that influence adult learning and to provide information to help policymakers foster adult learning programs in rural Pennsylvania face a unique set of challenges and obstacles. These include serving a diverse group of rural adults who need a variety of services, a changing job…

An analytical framework based on Joel Kovel's five meditations on spirit (spirit power, spirit being, spirit meaning, spirit and desire, and divine spirit) was used to explore the spirituality of committed environmental activists. A purposeful and snowball sampling method was used to interview 18 individuals with a strong commitment to…

A study addressed the impact of the travel experience on the older traveler and when such experiences may be transformative. It explored the experiences of four older and experienced travelers. Research questions were: What types of experiences travelers identified? In what ways transformative experience was manifested? What conditions seemed to…

FUNdamentals puts the "FUN" back in learning for all age groups. FUNdamentals is an intensive, systematic phonics learn-to-read program that helps improve comprehension, spelling, and penmanship. It is designed for use by every age group. Formulated for use with learners from preschool through adult ages, FUNdamentals is the key to…

In Alex Haley's "Autobiography of Malcolm X" (1965), Haley recounts the life of an historical personage of enduring controversy. Whether one reveres or reviles Malcolm, "X", Little, his is a fascinating story of lifelong learning. Rather than conforming to one theory, Malcolm's learning is well explained by certain theorists at certain times in…