Relevant Curricula Help Workers to Learn

Although disadvantaged students recognize the theoretical value of education, they enroll in adult basic education to advance in their jobs. They want to earn better wages, secure a better standard of living for themselves and their families, and gain some measure of power and prestige among their colleagues. Language and mathematics skills which immediately transfer from school to work help workers to learn. When they capitalize on familiar workplace situations, instructors help workers to learn English and math skills that yield immediate benefits. The architects of twenty-first century adult education agreed with their business and corporate partners that the focus must be on outcome based education. Businessmen need to see workers applying their new skills at work. Workers need to see those outcomes, too. When skills and advancement reinforce one another, motivation and engagement help workers to learn.