Discusses the role of literacy in enabling people to influence the political and social processes that affect their lives. Reviews various definitions of literacy. Citing Paolo Friere and others, considers the political, social, and economic issues related to literacy; and the components of and the conditions needed to develop a liberated…

The National Issues Forum's Literacy Program uses study circles and group discussion to promote empowerment and enhance adult literacy through civic education. The program has helped the Westonka (Minnesota) Adult Basic Education project accomplish its mission and has expanded the staff's view of adult learning. (SK)

Discusses the use of technology to enhance literacy programs in libraries and suggests ways for librarians to increase their understanding of potential applications of technology to their programs. Technological tools are briefly described, and the activities of several public library literacy technology projects are summarized. (three references)…

Summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of using computers in adult literacy instruction. Presents a matrix which permits teachers to see at a glance how any one of 112 specific software programs may be used. (RS)

Composite math and writing scores for 353 General Educational Development (GED) graduates who had successfully completed the GED test were analyzed. For those who had attended classes and received coaching, significant differences were found on the writing skills test but not on the math test or overall test scores. (SK)

Six elements of San Francisco State University's Teaching Improvement Process for adult basic education instructors are organization of learning activities, life skill competency application, monitoring student performance, addressing student learning styles, appropriateness of materials, and grouping strategies. Three training processes are…

A telephone survey of 129 Iowa adults who had not completed high school determined reasons for lack of participation in adult basic education. Factor analysis of 32 reasons yielded 4 interpretable factors: low perception of need, perceived effort, dislike of school, and situational barriers. Low perception correlated with age and situational…

Twenty-seven participants in a Job Training Partnership Act-funded literacy program at Houston Community College received one of three types of computer-assisted instruction (CAI). The longer CAI was used, the higher the posttest reading and mathematics scores. Students with higher skill levels at entry learned faster with CAI systems. (SK)

Examines the failure of adult literacy programs in North America. Argues that the problem's scope and funding limitations demand cost- effective measures: prevention of early childhood deprivations that stunt cognitive development, replacement of many full-time programs with part-time or drop-in programs, and use of volunteers. (SV)

One hundred sixty adult basic education students functioning at or below the sixth-grade level rated the extent to which they needed to learn 20 functional tasks. Factor analysis suggested three broad categories: everyday reading and writing, math and measurement, and special literacy tasks. Cluster analysis identified distinct subgroups based on…

Focuses on the problem of literacy in adolescents and adults. Reviews literacy in the context of improving relevance of education. Argues that the problem of relevance should be addressed by all sectors and asks that educators develop processes of open, genuine mutual and cooperative inquiry at the class and school levels. (Author/CH)

Slow growth of female literacy in Pakistan can be attributed to negative attitudes toward the status of women; religious, social, and political factors; and poverty, among others. Males receive more education than females, especially in rural areas. (SK)

Reflecting on her practice with one learner, an adult literacy tutor argues that, because literacy acquisition is the same for children and adults, practitioners must study literacy literature across age levels in order to provide programs that are developmentally appropriate and instructionally responsive. (SK)

Compares four small-group literacy-learning approaches (cooperative, collaborative, participatory, and workplace team) in terms of assumptions, relationship to literacy, learning activities, and teacher role. Concludes that they are validated more in theory than in practice; more attention to gender, class, and culture is also needed. (SK)

Professionalization, accreditation, and a shift in government support toward work-based skills mean that learner-centered literacy learning is in danger of being subordinated to unsatisfactory purposes in order to retain funding. (SK)