During the affluent noughties it was sometimes said of government that it had "more visions than Mystic Meg and more pilots than British Airways". In 2011, the pilots, the pathfinders, the new initiatives are largely gone--implementation is the name of the game--but the visions remain. The latest one, as it affects adult learners, is in…

As Chief Executive of the National Youth Agency, the author was asked to give her perspective on the lifelong learning prospects for young people. She believes that one's capacity to be a learner and to learn, at whatever stage of life, is directly influenced by every other aspect of one's life, from one's attitudes to one's income. As a young…

This article presents an interview with Sir John Daniel outgoing President and CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning. Sir John Daniel's term as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) ended on May 31, 2012. Readers of "Distance Education" will know of Sir John's work at the Tele-universite (Directeur des…

There is no centralized policy for using television and radio for inservice teacher education in Britain. Teacher training colleges have their own low cost production units, two cities have all their schools linked on a closed circuit cable system, and the BBC broadcasts on open circuit one or two series for teachers each year. The largest user of…

Includes "Take Your Partners for Adult Learning" (Carlton); "Museums Must Recognize Needs of All Users" (Anderson); "Charts, Ships, Models and the History of Time" (Coben, Lincoln); "Alternative Ways of Learning" (Sullivan); "Older Adults and Family Learning" (Reynolds); "Multiculturalism,…

Educational professional development is a global concern. It is often characterised by event-delivery methods, though there are signs that other approaches are gaining favour. The authors stress the significance of non-formal learning, and the ways in which it can be promoted and enhanced within the activity systems within which teachers in higher…

Because of the current high unemployment rate of British youth, traditional academic and vocational school educational methods are impractical for many young adults. Alternatives such as youth adult networks, evening literacy programs, cooperative theatre groups, and self-employment collectives are discussed. (JA)