Teaching Adults

Teaching Adults is a comprehensive treatment of the major issues faced by teachers of adults. It is aimed at those teaching formally through courses or informally through voluntary organisations whether in classes of advanced study or at beginners' level. It is not only useful for lecturers, tutors, instructors or trainers but also for those, like health visitors or clergy, who are primarily engaged in another activity. It will appeal to those supervising practical courses with the emphasis laid on specific skills, to the liberal arts tutor seeking to extend perception and understanding in a more general sense, and to those engaged in adult vocational training and continuing professional development. The second edition of this best-selling text has been thoroughly updated and revised. The section on 'learning' has been completely rewritten and the chapters on 'Blocks of Learning' and 'Evaluation' have been expanded, incorporating new material. Teaching Adults is based on more than thirty-five years of practical experience in teaching adults in a variety of contexts in the United Kingdom and overseas. It draws on the many tutor training courses with which the author has been engaged. It seeks to come to grips with what it is that makes teaching adults different from all other branches of education, with what is so distinctive about teaching adults rather than school or college students. It is concerned both with basic principles as well as useful hints for teachers, and as such it will be of value to teachers and programme organisers alike, to students engaged on adult education courses and to their teachers, to policy makers and administrators. Its emphasis is towards the practice of teaching through greater understanding of what it is we are doing, and the author speaks with involvement and from experience.