The field of adult language, literacy and numeracy in Australia is a site of struggle as policy changes, new learner groups and new economic imperatives challenge teachers' expertise and beliefs about good teaching practice. This article examines the ways in which experienced adult language, literacy and numeracy teachers shape and reshape their…

This "Pan-Canadian Snapshot" explores the competencies needed to work with adults participating in Literacy and/or Essential Skills (L/ES) programs in Canada. The purpose of the "Snapshot" is to: (1) lay a foundation from which to explore the topic of professionalism; (2) identify the types of supports that the L/ES workforce…

This position paper outlines what teachers in English language and literacy positions need to know and be able to do; what professional associations, providers of teacher development, and employers should do; and what action steps the Australian Literacy Federation will take. (SK)

A survey of 11 adult literacy practitioner research networks in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada indicated the following: primary purposes were professional development and outlet for practitioner voice; predominant methods were action and participatory research; 10 had government funding; and challenges included lack of…

Australian governmental bodies as well as professional associations have published reports and guidelines on teacher competence in adult literacy and English as a Second Language. The profession itself needs to make explicit its values and ethics and describe itself in a way that promotes good practice. (SK)

A national research project was conducted in Australia on the professional development needs of curriculum writers, industry trainers, and vocational teachers in relation to the development of language, literacy, and numeracy competence in vocational education and training. Data were collected through the following methods: a review of literature;…

These 15 papers cover a wide range of topics and perspectives on the work of Adult Literacy and Basic Education (ALBE) practitioners in Victoria, Australia, in the contemporary ideological and political context. A preface (John Wilson) and introduction (Delia Bradshaw) begin the anthology. The papers are as follows: "...A…

An Australian project provided an inservice, team teaching program interspersed with professional development workshops for community-based practitioners in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Literacy and Basic Education (ABLE). The group who participated included four ESL teachers working in community providers and four adult literacy…

This package for presenters contains an 84-hour professional development course designed to train and support teachers of adult numeracy and mathematics in adult literacy and basic education. The information for presenters provided at the beginning includes material on how the course was developed, content and structure, and lists of resources and…

This course aims to give experienced practitioners additional knowledge and skill in relation to the following: changing contexts of national policy and delivery practices in adult literacy and basic education; current theories, issues, and concerns informing practice in the field; and their own practice in light of these reviews. It is intended…

This module is the first of five integrated professional development modules for adult literacy and basic education (ALBE) personnel. This module is in the form of a 6-hour workshop, the purpose of which is to develop the participants' competence to conduct initial assessment, placement, and referral of ALBE students. An overview consists of these…

This professional development program is designed to improve the understanding of Australian personnel working in adult literacy and basic education (ALBE) of the range of approaches and methods used to achieve different evaluation purposes. It is an adaptation of "A Guide to Program Evaluation" (included here), a detailed guide for…

This module is the fourth of five integrated professional development modules for adult literacy and basic education (ALBE) personnel. This module is in the form of a 6-hour workshop, the purposes of which are to develop further the practitioners' knowledge of the theoretical basis of teaching literacy in ALBE programs, to provide a supportive…

This module is the second of five integrated professional development modules for adult literacy and basic education (ALBE) personnel. This module is in the form of a 6-hour workshop, the purposes of which are to provide an experiential approach to ABLE program planning, to empower participants as curriculum developers, and to raise awareness of…

A study addressed the ways in which classroom interaction is structured explicitly and implicitly through a teacher's questions. It examined how this was done through the questions one teacher asked in her adult literacy class and what insights could be gained for adult literacy staff development programs. The research was undertaken in mid-1990…