"The book provides comprehensive coverage and definitions of the most important issues, concepts, trends and theories in adult education, adult ESL (English as a Second Language) and information communication technologies, offering an in-depth description of key terms and theories/concepts related to different areas, issues and trends in adult education worldwide"--Provided by publisher.

New technology can provide powerful new tools for enriching the lives of poor people and communities in unprecedented ways. At least that was the view of the G8 Digital Opportunities Task Force in 2001. A view that is upheld and further explored in the pages of this book. With an estimated 850 million illiterate people in the world today, this book explores how new information and communication technology (ICT) supports basic literacy and the information skills crucial for economic and social development.

A high level of literacy in both print and digital media is required for negotiating most aspects of 21st-century life, including supporting a family, education, health, civic participation, and competitiveness in the global economy. Yet, more than 90 million U.S. adults lack adequate literacy. Furthermore, only 38 percent of U.S. 12th graders are at or above proficient in reading. Improving Adult Literacy Instruction synthesizes the research on literacy and learning to improve literacy instruction in the United States and to recommend a more systemic approach to research, practice, and policy. The book focuses on individuals ages 16 and older who are not in K-12 education. It identifies factors that affect literacy development in adolescence and adulthood in general, and examines their implications for strengthening literacy instruction for this population. It also discusses technologies for learning that can assist with multiple aspects of teaching, assessment,and accommodations for learning. There is inadequate knowledge about effective instructional practices and a need for better assessment and ongoing monitoring of adult students' proficiencies, weaknesses, instructional environments, and progress, which might guide instructional planning. Improving Adult Literacy Instruction recommends a program of research and innovation to validate, identify the boundaries of, and extend current knowledge to improve instruction for adults and adolescents outside school. The book is a valuable resource for curriculum developers, federal agencies such as the Department of Education, administrators, educators, and funding agencies.

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Technology examines information on leveraging the power of technology to support teaching and learning. While using innovative technology to educate individuals is certainly not a new topic, how it is approached, adapted, and used toward the services of achieving real gains in student performance is extremely pertinent. This two-volume encyclopedia explores such issues, focusing on core topics and issues that will retain relevance in the face of perpetually evolving devices, services, and specific techniques. As technology evolves and becomes even more low-cost, easy-to-use, and more accessible, the education sector will evolve alongside it. For instance, issues surrounding reasoning behind how one study has shown students retain information better in traditional print formats are a topic explored within the pages of this new encyclopedia. Features: A collection of 300-350 entries are organized in A-to-Z fashion in 2 volumes available in a choice of print or electronic formats. Entries, authored by key figures in the field, conclude with cross references and further readings. A detailed index, the Reader’s Guide themes, and cross references combine for search-and-browse in the electronic version. This reference encyclopedia is a reliable and precise source on educational technology and a must-have reference for all academic libraries.

This document was produced by the authors based on their research for the report "Using Information and Communication Technologies in Adult Literacy Education: New Practices, New Challenges," and is an added resource for further information. The contents of this support document are divided into two parts. Part I includes: (1) Literature Review; (2) Preliminary Remarks; (3) Literature Review; and (4) References. Part II contains: (1) Case Studies; and (2) References. Case studies included in Part II are: (1) Sturt Institute of TAFE; (2) Wentworth Institute; (3) Extractive Industries WELL Program; (4) Indigenous Learning Centre; and (5) Mitchell ACE Community Education Provider. [This work has been produced with funding provided through the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training. For "Using Information and Communication Technologies in Adult Literacy Education: New Practices, New Challenges. An Adult Literacy National Project Report," see ED495121.].

This engaging book sheds light on the ways in which adults in the twenty-first century interact with technology in different learning environments. Based on one of the first large-scale academic research projects in this area, the authors present their findings and offer practical recommendations for the use of new technology in a learning society. They invite debate on: why ICTs are believed to be capable of affecting positive change in adult learning the drawbacks and limits of ICT in adult education what makes a lifelong learner the wider social, economic, cultural and political realities of the information age and the learning society. Adult Learning addresses key questions and provides a sound empirical foundation to the existing debate, highlighting the complex realities of the learning society and e-learning rhetoric. It tells the story of those who are excluded from the learning society, and offers a set of strong recommendations for practitioners, policy-makers, and politicians, as well as researchers and students.