The problem of what set of instructional materials and equipment and entire instructional systems to use is presented, with specific reference to the area of Correctional Adult Basic Education (ABE). In setting up an ABE program, the initial order of business is to construct a viable model, one that insures that rapid and significant learning will occur for those participating in the program. Operant psychology has provided many practical applications to the problems of education. Programmed instruction (IPI) is an example of such an application. Several essential criteria by which the educator can design and evaluate learning material are: (1) Explicit behavioral objectives should be set forth in a manner which lends them to measurement; (2) Validation data should be provided by the publisher of the materials; (3) Trainee-oriented instructional increments are a desirable characteristic of instructional materials; (4) Active student participation is another desirable characteristic of an instructional product; and (5) Instructional materials should provide the student with immediate feedback of his learning progress. An advanced model of IPI for ABE is in operation at Draper Correctional Center, Elmore, Alabama. It is concluded that for efficiency of learning, ABE materials should be programmed in sequence, modularized, and presented in a manner that permits frequent feedback of the learner's progress. (CK)