This study consisted of qualitative interviews with eight recent graduates of doctoral programs in adult education from each of three different universities (a total of twenty-four respondents). The question that was addressed by this study is: "What are the shared beliefs and behaviors of those who have completed doctoral studies in adult education."The respondents to this study gave forceful support to the argument that adult education is a practice-oriented field. Their responses consistently focused around the practical. They were interested in research for the applications that it would give them for their practice. They were interested in teaching methods. They wanted to see fewer administrative and delivery barriers to adult education. They mentioned empowerment and application as purposes of adult education. In general, they viewed adult education as a field of practice that related directly to what they were doing to educate adults and they were really more interested in teaching methodologies and other practical information than in theoretical foundations. This orientation was reinforced by the overwhelming support for Malcolm Knowles as an author who has had a great influence on their development as adult educators. / Department of Educational Leadership

Thesis (Ed.D.)--North Carolina State University. / Vita. Originally issued in electronic format. UMI number: 3175982. Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-139). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (MTech (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005 / The focus of this research is the evaluation of the National Diploma in Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) for the purpose of suggesting improvements that could enable ABET diplomates to meet the demands of their challenging ABET world of work. The research study is based on the reflections of employed ABET diplomates and their employers on the relevance and usefulness of the ABET qualification in the workplace. The research is set against the general literature on the linkages between higher education and workplaces in general and the need for the development of work integrated curricula and high workplace competence levels in particular. The research also draws on literature that relate to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) in the current South African education system and the role that could be played by learnerships and service-learning in the development of ABET practitioners. Reference is also made to the literature on employability of graduates, the contextual nature of the ABET world of work, work-based learning, and pedagogy or andragogy that is needed to support workplace practices. Qualitative evaluation approaches and narrative data production methods in the context of teaching and learning were used. The lecturers, ABET diplomates and their employers were interviewed in order to find out how the National Diploma in ABET prepared the diplomates to be effective and efficient in their ABET world of work. Curriculum documents for the National Diploma in ABET were also consulted. The research findings indicated that employed ABET diplomates find it difficult to meet all the demands of the workplace in general and to demonstrate an understanding of unit standards and outcomes when preparing lessons and planning learner activities in particular. The study therefore calls for higher education institution to find alternative ways of offering the National Diploma in ABET by establishing partnerships with workplaces and work closely with potential employers of ABET diplomates. Such collaborative efforts could result in the development of work-integrated curricula which could enable ABET diplomates to spend more time in the workplace than in the classroom. The study recommends that higher education institutions should be involved in ABET Practitioner learnerships that provide work-based learning and in service-learning which provides community service experience in order to provide learners with an opportunity to connect theory with practice and ideology with actuality.

M.Ed. / South Africa needs to spread its available and required competence, skills and educational basis among its broad population (Valchanges, 1992:23). This is reflected in South Africa being rated 43rd out of 47 countries in the human development and skills level, or put differently, 14th out of 15 Group II countries in the World Competitiveness Report of 1992 (Gerber, Nel and Van Dyk, 1995:6). The South African educational system also ranked 14th of the 15 Group II countries in the same report (Gerber, et al, 1995:7). The situation is even worse if the World Competitiveness Report of 1995 is taken into consideration. South Africa ranked. 44th of 46 countries regarding its human resource development (Buffington and Associates, 1996; Rossouw, 1996:3; Pretoria News, 29 May 1996). If the above is taken into consideration it is clear that the start of the National Training Board (NTB) process that began in 1993 was necessary. The initial debates in the process were located within the vocational training context (HSRC, 1995:34). Four stakeholders entered the initial NTB process; namely: The government of the day with official representation by the departments of Education and Labour (called the Department of Manpower at the time); Representatives of different employers organisations; Representatives of organised labour; and Providers of learning. Different concerns from each of the above stakeholders caused a shift in the debate from a concern about vocational training to a broader concept of vocational education and training. This lead to the argument of an integrated approach. Thus: The field of education, training and development should adopt an integrated approach to all activities and systems currently classified as education and training and, unlike the past concentrate on vocational training only (HSRC, 1995:35). As part of such an integrated approach, education, training and development should not be seen as separate entities, but as one unit within the larger field of human resource development, i.e. the development of all those involved in Education, Training and Development (ETD), must be ranked as one of the biggest priorities in South Africa (National Training Board, 1995a:5). In November 1993, Working Committee 3 of the NTB submitted a report on "Trainer Development", under the title of "Education, Training and Development Practitioner" (NTB Annexure A, 1995c:2) thus starting a process of integrating the ETD field. Those involved in ETD were referred to as Education, Training and Development Practitioners (ETDP). The original task given to Working Committee 3 reads as follows: "Develop a South African competency-based model for trainers. Identify requirements for registration, certification, accreditation and recognition of existing qualifications and experience or competency in a national integrated certification/qualification structure." The ETDP competency model must be based on outcomes/outputs as a central focus, that will link the ETDP competency model with the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), thus ensuring registration, certification, accreditation and recognition of existing qualifications and experience (NTB, 1995c:21. To ensure that the ETDP Model complies to the requirements of the NQF (NTB, 1995a:5) it must be described in terms of: Roles; Outputs/Outcomes; Quality Standards; Competencies linked to outputs/outcomes; Range variables; and Levels of complexity.

M.Ed. (Tertiary and Adult Education) / Tertiary institutions experience a big influx of adult learners which increases the demand for capable adult educators. A need was identified to train or refresh adult educators in teaching techniques suitable for adult learners. Group methods have been identified as an effective teaching method to use in adult education as it provides the adult learner with the opportunity to use his/her experience and to be selfdirective in his/her studies. Selfstudy modules has been selected as an appropriate training method for adult educators as it is regarded as a cost-effective method to develop adult educators by means of distance education. A study of literature and descriptive research were conducted to determine the structure and requirements of a selfstudy unit as well as the essentials of group work. The information obtained was used to construct a selfstudy module dealing with the facilitating of adult learning by means of group methods. The following issues were addressed in the selfstudy module: 1) The use of group methods in the teaching-learning situation. 2) The essence of group methods and cooperative learning. 3) The characteristics of adult learners and their learning orientation towards learning. 4) Planning of group work by the adult educator. 5) The roll of the educator during group work. 6) Evaluating the group process, group efforts and individual achievements. Each of these topics was succeeded by an assignment to assist the adult educator to work through the module systematically and to evaluate his/her progress at regular intervals. On completion of the module he/she should be more equipped to fulfill his/her role as facilitator of group discussion.

M.Ed. / The aim of this research was to explore African women's experience of their multiple role involvement while engaged in Adult Education and Training (ABET) programmes at the ABET centre in the Gauteng Province. I argue that African women in ABET have different experiences of their multiple roles to their Western counterparts, and for this reason, ABET providers should understand the experiences, needs and characteristics of African women in ABET in order to design flexible courses and give effective learner support. The research question that guided the research reported on in this essay is: What are the experiences of African women of their multiple role involvement while engaged in ABET? In the light of the above, qualitative research was conducted using personal interviews for data collection. Eight participants were purposefully selected by maximum variation sampling to represent the widest possible range of experience. They were interviewed in order to arrive at a deeper understanding of these experiences. The data gathered were then analysed and findings written up. The findings of this research indicate that rural African women have to balance the role of learner with that of worker, home maker, wife, mother, and communal worker. In addition, the entrenched system of patriarchy in many African societies denies rural women any form of personal support structure with women often encountering direct opposition to their attempts at selfimprovement. It is my contention that ABET programmes are not flexible enough to accommodate these multiple roles. The learner's responses in the interviews contain important suggestions on how to improve ABET programmes. The study concludes with the recommendation for ABET programmes.

Workplace literacy is a movement that has gained popularity in our society in the last decade. Despite the prolific amount of literature on the subject, very little research has been done to determine how teachers are functioning in this new setting. The problem addressed by this study involved how teachers move into a new workplace literacy setting and the issues they face as they establish their classes in this new setting. The purpose of the study was to determine the kinds of issues which teachers might encounter as they move into this setting. Questions about how teachers experience moving into a workplace literacy setting located at the job site was examined through qualitative research. A case study narrative providing rich description was conducted. about one national workplace literacy project from the beginning of the project throughout the eighteen-month grant period. Classroom observations, participant observations, and interviews were completed. The method of constant comparison was used to analyze the data for patterns of similarity and dissimilarity. Six principal categories emerged from the data. The findings are presented in six broad categories: (a) a definition of workplace literacy; (b) awareness of company culture; (c) company involvement; (d) the workplace literacy student; (e) the workplace literacy classroom; and (f) the role of the teacher. From these findings, conclusions were drawn about teacher training materials for individuals in workplace literacy settings. It was determined that a need does exist for a usable teacher's manual containing information regarding workplace literacy programs. Additional research is necessary; one suggestion included replicating this study in another workplace literacy project to determine whether similar issues would emerge. / Ed. D.

The aim of this study was to develop a high-quality, experience-based, accredited training course that would bring black literacy workers into the ABET materials writing field. The report begins by setting the context of ABET in South Africa, then describing the literature on a wide variety of materials development projects in South Africa and other developing countries, some of which can be used as models for the proposed course. Training courses in fields outside ABET also inform the study. Through a combination of questionnaires and interviews, the study explores the needs of institutions concerned with ABET materials as well as the needs and skills of potential trainees. Ten specialists were interviewed: Seven were ABET practitioners representing a tertiary institution, NGOs and government and three were involved in educational publishing.They identified the need for relevant practical materials in all South African languages and learning areas, and said a training course should stress thinking skills, writing skills, visual literacy and a firm grasp of the process and economics of book production. Thirty eight potential trainees were contacted through questionnaires and focus groups. They were positive about the proposed course and alerted the researcher to logistical issues regarding finances and timing. All respondents said the course must be accredited in line with NQF requirements. The main tension that arose in the interviews was around priorities. While all the experts said training in the production of materials was important, it had to viewed as a luxury in light of extremely limited resources and urgent demands for delivery. Finally a proposed course is described, consisting of a 12-module, part-time course lasting approximately one year.

This was a comparative study of FAL and REFLECT'S adult literacy facilitator training processes in Uganda. It was based on the government's Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) programme, and Action Aid Uganda's (AAU) REFLECT Programmes.The purpose of this study was to: Find out the similarities and differences between the FAL and REFLECT facilitator training process. Establish how FAL and REFLECT facilitator training is organised. Establish how FAL and REFLECT facilitators are selected for training. Identify the teaching and learning materials used for training FAL and REFLECT literacy facilitators. Find out how the trained facilitators of FAL and REFLECT feel about the training and the approach they have been trained to use. Establish the kind of post training support arrangements provided for the trained adult literacy facilitators under FAL and REFLECT. These issues were all raised in the form of research questions and answered by the study. A qualitative research study was used to address the research questions. This included the use of focus group discussions, key informant interviews, questionnaires, direct observation and documentary analysis. The findings of this study are presented in chapter four under various headings applicable to both FAL and REFLECT. These are: the ideological view of literacy, selection of trainees and trainers, the training programmes, the training materials, funding for the training, employment arrangements after training, post training support arrangements, and evaluation of the training programme. From the findings, a general conclusion was drawn that the training processes of FAL and REFLECT were similar in the areas of organisation of the training programmes, selection of trainees, the sources of funding for the training programmes, deployment of trainees and evaluation of the training. Differences were found in the ideology which informs the two literacy approaches and therefore the training programmes for the literacy facilitators, the training methods and materials used and the post training support arrangements made for the trained literacy facilitators. The study concludes that the FAL and REFLECT literacy facilitator training is different. REFLECT has a better approach to training their literacy facilitators than FAL, although both approaches have many areas which should be improved for better training of their literacy facilitators. It was also noted that the differences between FAL and REFLECT occur in areas which are crucial for the success of a training programme and the performance of the trainees. This could explain the difference in the performance and effectiveness of the programmes using the two approaches. The recommendations call for serious attention to be given to the training of adult literacy facilitators to ensure that only qualified people are entrusted with the work of teaching adult literacy. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The goal of learning interventions is to prepare an individual to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable him/her to perform better and to be able to handle all the challenges posed by the continuous changing world of work. Transfer of learning to the workplace provides a yardstick to determine whether the goal has been attained or not. This study was conducted to answer the following questions; what is transfer of learning, what constraints have been identified in the existing research on transfer of learning, and what constraining factors prevent management trainees to transfer learning to the workplace in a private sector case study. To answer these questions a mixed research approach (qualitative and quantitative) was used. Triangulation of data was done to ensure reliability. The questionnaire was designed using the Likert rating scale and was used as a quantitative data collection tool for this study. The data was displayed through line and pie graphs for graphical illustrations. The questionnaire was analysed using a hand tabulation data coding table. The questionnaire was distributed to all 34 management trainees and only 17 completed the questionnaires. The qualitative data collection tools consisted of semi-structured and focus group interviews. The literature study pointed out that various researchers identified factors that prevent transfer of learning. The factors are; lack of organisational support, course content that is dissociated from the trainees’ roles and responsibilities in the workplace, trainees’ willingness and readiness. The empirical research findings revealed that organisational factors such as lack of coaching, feedback, mentoring as well as creating an opportunity for trainees to implement the skills and knowledge play a leading role while training and learner factors play a contributing role as constraints to transfer of learning to the workplace. / Dissertation (MEd (Maximising Potential))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted