Reading and writing skills are the foundation for all other education. Literacy is essential for understanding of information that is out of context, both written and verbal. Literacy skills encompass the ability to read, write, do math, solve problems and use technology; without these skills, adults cannot reach their full potential in their homes, communities and professions. Literacy is also a means of decreasing poverty, improving infant mortality rates and addressing gender inequality.
When it is most effective, adult literacy is embedded in a work context rather than learned in a classroom. It is included in job training and enhanced through work-related activities. Adult learning needs to be embedded in authentic experiences at work. They are highly motivated and reap rewards both for learning and for doing well at their profession. When workers lack basic reading, writing, math and language sills, education and training are best delivered through opportunities at the workplace.
Adults in need of improved literacy must understand why they need to improve their literacy skills. To learn basic skills, the learning must be connected to something meaningful to inspire participation and persistence. This is especially true when the adult feels they were short-changed by the school system. Reading, writing, math and language fluency connected to work-based learning motivates the learner to participate to achieve success at work.
Proficient readers are developed when literacy skills are embedded in career programs and daily life. All day, every day, adults access literacy strategies. When buying a new car, they research options and prioritize information, focusing on what is pertinent to their needs and desires. You make inferences about what you read and predict how different vehicles work for you. Eventually, you create a synthesis and summary of what you have learned to make an informed choice. Proficient readers use all these skills. Proficient readers make connections between what they are learning and their prior knowledge. They pose questions as they read and visualize, using their imagination to picture what is being read. They can determine what is important in a text and make inferences to discern meaning that is not explicitly stated. Readings skills are necessary to succeed at work, to access useful information and to be fulfilled in life.