Multiple case study method elicited data from four students in a teacher education program. Their level of reflective thinking was related to maturational development and epistemological views. Most tended to exhibit lower to middle levels of reflection, suggesting that critical reflection requires deeper transformation of beliefs and values.…

A Health Literacy Study Circle[superscript +] is a multi-session professional development activity for adult education practitioners, conducted by a facilitator. All the information and materials required to conduct each Health Literacy Study Circle[superscript +] is presented in two parts: this Introduction and the "Facilitator's Guide" for each…

This guide offers a set of 13 lessons designed to help learners understand the components of reading that are part of becoming a more fluent reader, and to guide them as they work with the teacher to set their own goals for reading. The lessons can be used as an independent mini-course, or they can be integrated into an existing curriculum. The…

A federally funded research and development center focused solely on adult learning, the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) is a partnership of the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, World Education, Rutgers University, Portland State University in Oregon, and the Center for Literacy Studies at the…

This guide addresses issues around organizing learning services for students in ways that make sense for them, and what the research says about it. The focus is on the structure and organization of instruction and how practitioners can broaden the range of options that students have so that classes aren't the only option. This guide provides all…

"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. "Focus on Basics" is dedicated to…

The sourcebook is for those people who serve as administrators of adult basic, adult secondary, and/or adult English-for-speakers-of-other-languages (ESOL) programs, whether those programs are school-based, community-based, or community-college-based. This is one of the various tools developed through the National Center for the Study of Adult…

This guide provides comprehensive instructions for facilitating a ten-hour study circle that explores differing theories of the reading process, the four major components of reading and the implications for teaching, the development of learners' reading profiles, and the Equipped for the Future framework. The guide is based on a review of adult…

"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. "Focus on Basics" is dedicated to…

This Research Brief highlights key findings from a study that examined the labor market attachment of male dropouts who obtained the GED credential in Florida between 1994 and 1998. I compared these credentialed dropouts to the men who attempted, but failed, the GED exam during the same period. Credentialed dropouts had a higher probability of…

This research brief highlights key findings from a study that is a subset of a larger study being conducted jointly by NCSALL's John Strucker and Kentaro Yamamoto and Irwin Kirsch of the Educational Testing Service (ETS). This study builds on the proposition that a reader's comprehension performance is largely determined by his or her abilities in…

Whether in the context of work, parenting, or civic responsibility, strong literacy and communication skills are more essential than ever to realizing one's full potential in America. Many people who did not acquire these skills while growing up look to adult education programs for instruction in literacy, English language fluency, or other types…

Analysis of current discourse about lifelong learning as the key to economic and social development suggests that its ability to enhance democracy is being compromised. Communities should reclaim lifelong learning for the purpose of the greater public good rather than private profit. (Contains 31 references.) (SK)

Reviews the development of a certificate in adult education for teachers in New Zealand, including issues related to the ideology of neoliberalism. Presents issues involved in the termination of the program and new directions for the training of adult educators. (Contains 21 references.) (SK)

Germany's Dual System of apprenticeship and training has been criticized for obsolescence and social segmentation. Some advocate a more flexible approach to improve training programs. Although new types of training are emerging, the lower end of the qualifications ladder is being neglected. (Contains 60 references.) (SK)