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This document contains six papers about and from a roundtable discussion of poverty alleviation, work, and adult learning. The "Introduction" (Madhu Singh) presents an overview of the roundtable. "Work-Related Adult Education: Challenges and Possibilities in Poverty Areas" (Enrique Pieck) describes work-related adult education strategies and argues that training alone is insufficient for poverty areas. Competence reform in Norway is examined in "The Future of Work and Adult Learning: The Norwegian Case" (Ole Briseid). "The New Role of Adult Education Institutions: From Schools to Learning Agencies" (Peter Krug) explains why educational institutions must become open learning centers and act as facilitators of the transition between schools and universities and continuing education. "Trade Unions and Adult Vocational Learning for the Informal Sector" (Christine Nathan) discusses the situation of women construction workers in India and suggests how trade unions can help them through adult education. Adult vocational education's responsiveness to those it serves is considered in "Ethical Implications of Contemporary Trends in Work and Adult Vocational Learning" (Richard D. Bagnall). Concluding the document are abstracts and the tables of contents of two United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Education publications on work-based learning. (MN)

Case studies and seminar reports are provided that were presented at an international seminar to examine field experiences in using a culture-based approach to nonformal education. Part I, containing an introductory paper and nine case studies, focuses on indigenous institutions and processes in health, family planning, agriculture, basic education, and conscientization. The introductory paper discusses indigenous sociocultural forms as a basis for nonformal education and development. Seven countries are represented in the case studies: Indonesia, Bolivia, Java (Indonesia), Upper Volta, Botswana, India, and Bali (Indonesia). Section II focuses on the performing arts in both mass campaigns and community nonformal education programs. An introductory paper overviews folk media, popular theater, and conflicting strategies for social change in the third world. The seven case studies consider the specific strategies used in Brazil, Sierra Leone, China, India, Mexico, Jamaica, and Africa. Section III contains the seminar reports developed from discussions of the four regional working groups: Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. A summary of plenary discussions is also provided. (YLB)

Twenty-five papers presented at the conference include papers on the role of the site coordinator in a distributed education network in Ontario; student support systems in the Open University of Israel; the dilemmas of designing a computer mediated communication support system; interactive libraries; tutoring in technical science in the Open University of the Netherlands; research supervision at a distance; the role of tutoring and group support in distance education; the relationship between interaction and independence; distance education in India; applications of telecommunications for interactive tutoring; and cost effectiveness analysis of projects that increase student interaction in distance education. Most of the papers include references. The individual papers are briefly reviewed in the introduction, and continuity from papers presented at two earlier conferences is discussed. (GL)

This report consists of papers given at, relating to, and produced by an international seminar that emphasized sharing practical experience and analyzing conditions necessary to set up and sustain a literacy program. The first section provides an "Introduction" (James Porter) and "Background to the Seminar" (Alan Rogers). Opening session papers include "The Meaning of Illiteracy: Moving from Rhetoric to Reality" (Manzoor Ahmed) and "Women, Literacy, and Development" (Lalage Bown). Information on organization of the workshops is followed by the "Seminar Programme Introductory Talk to Workshop Leaders" (Brian Street). The following papers and reports are provided for four workshops: "Literacy in Zambia: Human and Economic Crisis" (David Alexander); "The Relationship of Nonformal Education and Development" (David Stephens); "Which Literacies?" (Brian Street); "Definitions and Politics" (Didacus Jules); "Reflections on the Botswana National Literacy Programme" (E. K. Townsend Coles); "Case Studies from India" (Moitraye Mukhapadyaya); "Ideology and Curriculum" (Juliet McCaffrey); and "Appropriate Materials and Method in Literacy Teaching" (L. S. Saraswathi). A report to the plenary session is provided for each workshop. An "Afterword" (L. S. Saraswathi), "Comments on Workshops" (Brian Street, Alan Rogers), and a list of speakers and workshop leaders conclude the report. (YLB)