Adult Learning and Literacy: Past, Present, and Future

Reviews the book,  Review of Adult Learning and Literacy, Volume 4: Connecting Research, Policy, and Practice  edited by John Comings, Barbara Garner, and Cristine Smith (see record  2004-14952-000 ). The National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) has long provided numerous studies on the status of adult learning and literacy. Because of these efforts, adult educators have been able to keep abreast of a number of issues. Some have argued that practice should inform theory, and others believe that theory should inform practice. However, often overlooked are how theory and practice impact policy and, more important, how all three can and should coexist. Although the editors of  Review of Adult Learning and Literacy, Volume 4: Connecting Research, Policy, and Practice  appropriately indicate "adult learning and literacy activity takes place in classrooms, tutorial sessions, workplaces, and cyberspace" (p. vii), they overlook the numerous activities in nonformal contexts, such as museums and community-based facilities. Hence, the reader should expect to find little mention of such settings throughout the book. Nonetheless, the editors, John Comings, Barbara Garner, and Cristine Smith, state that the book is "intended to reach those policymakers, scholars, and practitioners who are dedicated to improving the quality of practice in adult basic education (ABE), adult English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), and adult secondary programs" (p. ix). To reach their intended audiences, the editors have included topics that may or may not be familiar to the reader. Overall, the book can serve as a textbook or as a useful reference. The resources and recommendations are useful for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers. Readers will, undoubtedly, enhance their knowledge regarding adult literacy and learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)