This book examines the low level of numeracy in Britain, reasons why numeracy is critical, and the forces affecting adults. Section 1 describes the educational environment in which adults learn mathematics. Chapters 1-2 explore the role and purposes of adult education and identify characteristics of and influences on learners and teachers. Section…

This paper defines active citizenship as a fundamental aim of democratic society that enables all citizens to participate as fully as possible in cultural, economic, political, and social life. Adult education is recommended as a forum for promoting active citizenship and, since participatory democracy is learned through practice, should be an…

This paper provides an overview of a book entitled "Adults Count Too: Mathematics for Empowerment". The introduction to the book details why the author spent three years writing about adults learning mathematics, and outlines the shape and structure of the book. A chapter from the book, entitled "A Matrix of Factors," is presented as an example of…

A survey of enrolled students and withdrawers from a certificate program at the University of Exeter showed that this type of provision is meeting the needs of adults who have not previously benefited from higher education. (SK)

Traditionally, liberal adult education in Britain has been premised on nonaccreditation. However, political influences, the thrust of work force development, and student demand are pressuring reconsideration of accreditation. (SK)

Interviews with British adult educators (11 women, 6 men) established their learning needs regarding curriculum, assessment, and management; preferred learning strategies; and desired learning outcomes in terms of career advancement, job performance, and enlightenment. Some wanted more formal rather than self-directed learning opportunities. (SK)

Survey results from 75 British adult learners indicated that the main site where they acquired skills of active citizenship (including interpersonal competence, confidence, and knowledge of government) was the workplace. Very small numbers felt that schools equipped them with these skills. (SK)

This document contains 19 papers presented at a conference on educating adult educators at the University of Exeter, England in July 1998. The following are included: "Themes and Issues in Training the Adult Educator" (Rosesanne Benn); "Training Adult Educators in Poland" (Tadeusz Aleksander); "Educating Teacher…

This document contains four papers that examine four diverse topics from the field of adult education: multiculturalism, ageism, mathematics, and new paradigm research. In "Editorial Introduction," Roger Fieldhouse gives an overview of the papers and the experience of their authors. The first paper, "Multi-Cultural Perspectives on…

Despite strong rhetoric supporting the emancipatory role of adult education, tutors in access to higher education courses for adults tend to contradict this in practice. Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony shows how subcultures such as these tutors create mental maps from conflicting ideologies (social purpose, individualism, economics) that…

Surveys of Access Course students and providers at British universities as well as those who inquired about them yielded 1,471 responses. Providers considered math an important qualification, but sizable numbers of students and inquirers saw math as a major barrier to their participation. (SK)

Higher education access programs have focused deliberately on broadening class, race, and gender composition of participant and have targeted traditionally underrepresented groups. To be truly fair, equal opportunities must be extended across all of the population, in particular to working class men. (SK)

This document contains six papers examining the theoretical and practical development of university adult continuing education (ACE) curricula in the late 1990s. The following are among the factors considered in "An Exploration of the Factors Affecting the Adult Continuing Education Curriculum" (Roseanne Benn): goals; cultural,…

This publication contains an introduction and the 19 papers presented in workshops at a conference that addressed some issues relating to professionalization and the training and professional development needs in the area of adult education. Papers are as follows: "Training and Professional Development in Adult and Continuing Education"…

This book contains 17 papers examining the various roles--learner, teacher, researcher, manager--that women have played in the development of lifelong learning. The following papers are included: "Introduction: Women and Continuing Education--Where Are We Now?" (Roseanne Benn, Jane Elliott, Pat Whaley); "Dancing into the Future:…