Explains how the British Army supports the basic skills development of soldiers even when they are stationed overseas in difficult conditions with little time to devote to studying. Describes the experience of civilian basic skills tutors overseas. (JOW)

Army enlistees with General Educational Development (GED) certificates who completed military service (1,894) were compared with 2,085 GED enlistees who dropped out. Completers had higher GED scores and Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery subtest scores. It was recommended that GED scores be an integral part of recruitment screening and a…

Examines assumptions (such as "every adult can read to some extent" and "adult students will be well motivated") held by a veteran high school social studies teacher before he began teaching adults how to read. Discusses how some of the assumptions were valid, some invalid, and others partly valid. (RS)

Melville's "Bartleby" and "The Paradise of Bachelors and The Tartarus of Maidens" provide insights into workplace literacy on the following issues: existential nature of literacy, empowerment versus compliance, class and gender exploitation, and the use of literacy as a tool to label, control, and delimit people and their…

Significant differences in reasons for enrollment and 4 family support elements emerged in survey responses from 88 of 110 African Americans in adult basic education (47 of whom were persisters). Persisters were more likely to be preparing for jobs. Family attitudes, financial support, and career motivations were major factors in persistence. (SK)

In workplace reading classes, employees practiced self-monitoring, use of background knowledge, identification of the purpose of reading, work-related vocabulary, and concept mapping. A survey one year later showed most were still using self-monitoring, prior knowledge, purpose of reading, and critical vocabulary on the job. (SK)

A survey of 2,021 Nevada employers received 1,124 usable responses indicating significant differences in their interest in adult basic education services. Larger organizations were more interested (57% of those with more than 500 employees). They were most interested in methods to encourage attendance and in availability of information about…

William Glasser's Reality Therapy approach proposes seven stages to challenge adults to become involved with learning: establish supportive relationships, evaluate behavior, develop a learning plan, achieve commitment, accept no excuses, eliminate punishment, and refuse to give up. (SK)

Describes a multimedia project that combined text, pictures, and sound and found that the students could reinforce their reading and writing skills by using a word processor, recording their writing, and drawing pictures. Suggests that teachers have been using multimedia for years and should not be intimidated by the thought of it. (JOW)

Interviews based on grounded theory were conducted with 17 incarcerated adult basic education students. Trust was consistently identified as the most important perceived need reported by the students. The learning environment facilitator must ensure that trustworthiness prevails. (JOW)

The rationale for publishing adult literacy learners' work can involve disrupting existing power relations and giving voice to the marginalized. How work is published can also be an opportunity to alter the balance of power; for example, by having learners be the publishers, editors, and so on. (SK)

As part of a workplace skills program, meat processing employees wrote and produced a company newsletter that became a catalyst for change in the workplace. The project illustrates how instruction can turn into a meaningful opportunity for critical action. (SK)

Looks at the increasing rate of illiteracy in developing countries and the role of family literacy programs in combating the trend. Describes family literacy programs as different from traditional literacy programs in that they are designed to maximize the probability that adults will succeed in transferring their new beliefs, attitudes,…

Economic analysis of the addition of a basic skills center to a word processing training center for unemployed adults showed that over three years the return on investment could be $14.00 to $1.00. (SK)

Describes five steps for increasing the literacy level of adult beginning readers using creative plays. Notes that creative plays as reading material empowers the adult beginning reader because (1) the content is personalized; (2) it allows for positive reinforcement on an affective level; and (3) it provides insights into possible strategies for…