This report describes presentations and discussions at a seminar to bring together research initiatives in the area of functional literacy and to explore appropriate ways of developing policy-driven research in all countries. Opening remarks by representatives of the European Community, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,…

This brief is a combination directory of contact persons and annotated bibliography designed to provide information on developing and implementing basic skills training programs for workers in the health care industry. The first section contains information on 33 contact persons currently operating employee basic skills programs for health care…

To investigate the extent of literacy programs in the workplace, an indepth look was taken at the different types of literacy programs in the workplace to determine what can help the state of literacy in the United States. The literacy efforts in the workplace among federal, state, and local government, schools, unions, businesses, corporations,…

This document describes the Adult Literacy Information and Evaluation System (ALIES), which is the management information system for New York City's citywide adult education program expansion effort begun in 1984. Chapter 1 describes the organization's creation in order to provide timely and reliable information to funders about the effects of the…

This document describes the data collection and analysis design used by the Adult Literacy Information and Evaluation System (ALIES), which is the management information system for New York City's citywide adult education program expansion effort begun in 1984. Chapter 1 describes the system's background. Chapter 2 explains five issues that…

The following steps will integrate computers into a volunteer literacy program: (1) decide how the computers will be used, depending on the program's needs (typically, computers are used to help with management chores and to motivate students and help them attain their academic and career goals); (2) investigate software and hardware, including…

The Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit (ALBSU) analyzed draft plans, required by the Education Reform Act 1988, from about 40 percent of the local education authorities (LEAs) in England and Wales to identify basic skills and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provisions for adults. Topics of concern were the maintenance of programs…

A survey of the literacy proficiency of 1,500 Australian adults indicates that: (1) people who demonstrate some proficiency with using printed material should not be classified as illiterate; (2) appropriate rating scales should be developed for assessing adults' literacy skills; (3) more detailed analysis of the characteristics of those who…

The gap in literacy rates between women and men continually broadens. In 1985, 63 percent of the world's approximately 1,000 million illiterate people were female, compared to 60 percent in 1970 and 58 percent in 1960. A process of social change, including community involvement and mobilization in favor of women's literacy, is needed to sustain…

This six-chapter monograph describes the development of adult basic education (ABE) in the Netherlands. It documents a process from the development of literacy by enthusiastic volunteers to professionalized and institutionalized adult education, which is still evolving. In chapter 1, a general outline of the problem of functional illiteracy…

This collection contains the texts of four draft papers and four responses that were presented at a symposium on defining literacy. The following papers are included: "Definitions of Literacy" (Richard L. Venezky); "Definitions of Literacy: Responses" (Reynaldo F. Macias); "Literacy for What Purpose?" (Larry…

This study outlines some of the literacy problems of immigrants to Canada and the attempts being made to overcome these problems. The study first examines some of the popular definitions of literacy with a view to finding one that might be a goal for all illiterates in Canada regardless of their birthplace. Next, the latest data are analyzed to…

TWO HYPOTHESES WERE STUDIED--THAT ADULTS CONSIDERED FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE MAY RECEIVE COMMUNICATION BY SPECIALLY WRITTEN MATERIALS, AND THAT THESE MATERIALS MAY BE PREPARED IN VARIOUS WAYS WHICH WILL DIFFERENTIATE IN COMMUNICATION CONVEYED. FOUR NEWSPAPER ARTICLES WERE REWRITTEN IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS. THESE AND THE ORIGINAL FORM WERE…

Because the traditional methods of adult literacy training frequently fail to achieve their objectives and because their implementation on a vast scale would be too costly, this UNESCO quide is presented as an aid in linking literacy campaigns to national development projects and the motivations for change which these might arouse among the rural…

A study was conducted to determine: (1) characteristics of illiterate adults enrolled at St. Teresa's VIP, and (2) implications of these characteristics for training volunteer tutors. A review was conducted of related research and opinion articles. A total of 48 students were interviewed concerning educational background, reasons for attending…