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The History of Adult Basic Education
The Adult Learner
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Module 5 - Student Services

Orientation and Program Placement

The Problem - Why do some adult education students achieve their goals while others do not? This problem has plagued teachers for years. In fact, more students drop out of adult basic education programs than complete them. Research supports that 50-70% of adults entering literacy programs drop out before they reach their goals. (Quigley, 1995 - ERIC - ED389880 Sandra Kerka, Adult Learner Retention Revisited, ERIC Digest No. 166.)

The first three weeks are critical for the adult learners. There are no magical answers on how you can enhance motivation or ensure that students remain in the program. Most of the time we think that if we try harder, adult students will remain in the program. However, even the best instructors often see retention rates as low as 30%. Certainly the quality of the program influences attendance and retention rates, but somehow learners still disappear from the classroom, often within the first three weeks.

 

 
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This web-based training program was developed by the State of Florida Adult Basic Education Committee of the Practitioners' Task Force, through an Adult Education State Leadership Grant from the Florida Department of Education, Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education.

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this web-based training component, it is not an official publication of the Florida Department of Education.