In 2000, approximately 877 million adults worldwide were illiterate and 113 million children did not attend school. More than two-thirds of those individuals lived in East and South Asia, and two-thirds were females. Functional illiteracy remains high in developed and developing nations alike. The reasons include weak training in how to teach…

Interviews with representatives from nine states (Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Ohio [Canton City Schools only], Oregon, Rhode Island, and West Virginia) and two nations (Australia and the United Kingdom) provided a context for the development of a certificate of basic or foundational skills as an indicator of an adult's…

Based on 5 years of empirical research conducted in 24 countries from every region of the world, this book examines the content and dynamics of adult learning policies and strategies, including the measures to promote the expression of learning demand and the new role of the state and other institutions. After presenting a reconstructed and…

This book, based on the work of a teacher and community development expert with many years of teaching adult education in numerous developing countries all over the world, provides a process for teaching and learning with adults. The book is illustrated with stories from the author's experience and examples that show how to begin, set up, carry…

A teacher who teaches General Educational Development preparation to at-risk teenagers in a nonprofit alternative education program called FutureWorks conducted a study to identify those elements of FutureWorks that keep students coming to the program. The study included the following data collection activities: a consensus-building activity to…

The nature and effects of current common understandings of the relationship between work and literacy were examined along with the typical design and objectives of workplace literacy programs for members of Australia's work force. Special attention was paid to the following topics: changing demands of work and literacy at work; discourses of…

This document contains three commissioned papers and other materials from a 2-day conference. "Politics, Policy, Practice and Personal Responsibility: Adult Education in an Era of Welfare Reform" (Deborah D'Amico) examines the relationship between literacy, poverty, and welfare reform and the implications of those relationships for…

This booklet examines the role of museums and libraries in providing adult education, both as informal individual learning as well as structured learning activities for groups of learners. The booklet presents an overview of how museums and libraries offer different types of educational opportunities for adults. Most museums have pedagogical…

Since independence, the government of Botswana has allowed only the use of English in government circles, excluding the other 26 languages represented in the country and allowing only limited use of the national language, Setswana. Since 1995, however, restrictions have been relaxed and non-government organizations are developing the use of other…

"Focus on Basics" is the quarterly publication of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. It presents best practices, current research on adult learning and literacy, and how research is used by adult basic education teachers, counselors, program administrators, and policymakers. Articles appearing in this issue…

Intended to share information about specialized training and demonstration activities from a rich diversity of local subject interests, environments, and populations served, this guide is a compilation of adult education and literacy resources funded under the Adult Education Act. Information is provided on 276 projects funded under Section 353 of…

This bibliography lists almost 4,000 books and other selected nonperiodical literature in the field of adult education. The bibliography was prepared using the following sources: the card catalogue of the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) library; the bibliographies of all adult education books in the library's holdings; articles and book…

The evaluation report details the structure and outcomes of a workplace education program for members of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers' Union from May 1993 through March 1995, and assesses the program's design as a model for similar programs elsewhere. The program was designed to enhance workers' skills and meet personal educational…

The Minnesota Defense Conversion Adjustment Project was initiated in 1993 with funding provided through the U.S. Department of Labor's Defense Conversion Adjustment Program to help workers at a Minnesota defense plant make the transition from assembler and related production classifications to machinists and other positions requiring specific job…

Census data, enrollment statistics, and selected studies/reports regarding adult literacy and literacy education in British Columbia (Canada) were examined to determine the nature and scope, need for, and cost of literacy activities and programs in British Columbia. According to 1986 census data, 17% of British Columbia's adult population lack…