Discusses the opinions of Daniel A. Wagner and Richard L. Venezky about the field of adult literacy, and challenges their position that the field needs to continue to develop along existing lines. Suggests that alternatives to traditional classroom-based literacy be studied to provide research-based alternatives to traditional practices. (SLD)

Continues the exploration of the future direction for the field of adult literacy and calls for improved empirical underpinnings for practice in the area of adult literacy and the improvement of the research base. (SLD)

A study of 10 groups of learners in workplace literacy programs at 6 companies was used to develop and refine a data-based model for evaluating workplace literacy programs. The learners (n=181) completed pre- and post-assessments. In a structured one-on-one interview, information was gathered on learners' beliefs about literacy and their own…

This bibliography contains about three hundred citations of publications on aspects of literacy by faculty and research officers at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in Toronto, over 45 theses completed by OISE students, and almost 40 publications by OISE graduates. The list was compiled from the results of a survey of OISE…

This volume accompanies a study of community-based approaches to literacy education for adults. It provides profiles of 26 community-based educational institutions that provided study data. Each profile provides name, address, and telephone number; contact; other project sites; institutional description; mission/purpose; approach; skills…

The project to develop a diagnostic test for adults attending literacy classes was conducted in two phases. First, an Adult Informal Reading Test (AIRT) was administered, scored and interpreted by the project team. These results and guidelines for the advancement of adults in reading materials were communicated to cooperating project teachers, who…

Examines the public library's role in adult literacy education in Australia in the past decade. Identifies areas of library services and staff training that need to change in response to the need of literacy programs. (SK)

Describes a literacy campaign in Ethiopia. Presents responses of women surveyed as to their motivation for and attitudes about attending the literacy classes. (HTH)

Describes efforts of the NIE to coordinate the fragmented information that is being produced on reading to help make Federal programs in that area more effective. (Author/GB)

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…

Compares and comments on two recent national surveys of adult literacy standards in the United States and Canada, which move away from reporting the number of literates/illiterates and use levels of literacy proficiency. Notes that different concepts for literacy levels, different types of sampling, and different ways of measuring literacy and…

Investigates various influences and reasons why non-English-speaking women working in a small goods factory in Australia chose not to participate in workplace literacy courses. Presents perceptions of the nonparticipants, the course provider, the teacher, the personnel manager, and the researcher. Discusses barriers, motivation, networks and power…

Describes the work of an Australian adult literacy and basic education teacher who mixes research and practice and a professional development project undertaken in the United Kingdom that was inspired by her work. (SK)

Much research on reading and writing in schools continues to focus on individual cognitive skills. In contrast, investigations of literacy-learning in out-of-school settings have often taken a socio-cultural perspective, situating reading and writing in social relations and cultural institutions. The last 20 years have seen a proliferation of…

A project in British Columbia, Canada, explored a deeper understanding of what it would be like to become literate and probed how that experience related to the life of the educator. The phenomenological study began with a literature search. It focused on and explored the stories of three adult learners, using the journals of two and extrapolating…