Adult Basic Education in the Age of New Literacies

Book excerpt: The volume addresses the ways that the field of adult basic education has already been impacted by changes in technology and what needs to happen for learners and teachers to take full advantage of newly developing resources. The analysis is organized around three main themes: Learning, Teaching, and Organizing. Each section reviews relevant research and sample instructional resources, drawing on work done from around the world. A key concern is moving beyond the hype to look for the specifics of practice - what exactly is new about contemporary adult basic education? Rather than a celebration of technology for technology's sake, the analysis asks a series of questions. What do we want learning to look like? What do teachers expect of themselves as professionals and learners? Finally, how is technology being used to shape the field, and how can we use it to work for changes we believe in? This book is essential reading for pre-service and in-service teachers, as well as instructors in a variety of fields relating to technology and learning.