Engaging with Difference: The `other' in Adult Education

This monograph contains a number of examples of attempts in adult education to meet the learning needs of individuals and groups of learners who have been marginalised or excluded by the education system in the United Kingdom (UK). Each chapter report on specific adult education projects and the work as a whole draws together common concerns for adult education practitioners in the 1990s. Section one, 'Roles and relationships' contains the following chapters: 'Come back when you've learnt some English': refugees, interpreters and teaching ESOL / Anne Bellis and Sahar Awar; 'I bet it was written by a mother': working with parents / Pam Coare; Who is the tutor?: housebound learning programmes / Kim Clancy and Mary Stuart. Section two, 'Group dynamics and women's education', contains the chapters: Mothers and sisters: power and empowerment in women's studies / Gerry Holloway and Mary Stuart; Murder your darlings: women's writings, many voices / Jill Masouri and Jennie Fontana. Section three, 'Defining learning: professional perceptions and learners' abilities', contains the chapters: Our right to know: women with learning difficulties and sexuality courses / Kathy Smith and Mary Stuart; Information technology and enablement: Microsoft Windows and adults with learning difficulties / David Longman and Mary Stuart; 'She's doing too much music': professional perceptions of a learner's needs / Gus Garside. Section four, 'Assessment and learners', contains the chapters: All change: accreditation and 'other' learners / Gerry Holloway; 'If experience counts, then why am I bothering to come here?': AP(E)L and learning / Mary Stuart. Section five, 'Collaborative learning - community publishing', contains the chapters: Life after stroke: special interest book-writing groups / Nick Osmond and the Stroke Carers' Group; Community writing and literacy development / Freda Ansdell, Nan McCubbin, Sonia Plato and Judy Wallis. The collection concludes with: Education and self identity: a process of inclusion and exclusion / Mary Stuart.