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- 213
- Adult Education Teachers
-
- (D.O.T. 075.127-010; 090.222, .227-018; 097.221, .227; 099.223,
- .224-014, .227-014, -018, -026, -030, -038; 149.021; 150.027-014;
- 151.027-014; 152.021; 153.227-014; 159.227; 166.221, .227; 235.222;
- 239.227; 375.227; 522.264; 621.221; 683.222; 689.324; 715.221;
- 740.221; 788.222; 789.222; 919.223; and 955.222)
-
- Nature of the Work
-
- Adult education teachers work in three main areas adult
- vocational-technical, adult basic, and adult continuing education.
- Some adult education teachers instruct people who have graduated or
- left school for occupations that do not require a college degree,
- such as welder, dental hygeinist, automated systems manager, x-ray
- technician, farmer, and cosmetologist. Other instructors help
- people update their job skills or adapt to technological advances.
- For example, an adult education teacher may train students how to
- use new computer software programs. Other teachers provide
- instruction in basic education courses for school dropouts or others
- who need to upgrade their skills to find a job. Adult education
- teachers also teach courses which students take for personal
- enrichment, such as cooking, dancing, writing, exercise and physical
- fitness, photography, and finance.
-
- Adult education teachers may lecture in classrooms and also give
- students hands-on experience. Increasingly, adult
- vocational-technical education teachers integrate academic and
- vocational curriculums so that students obtain a variety of skills.
- For example, an electronics student may be required to take courses
- in principles of mathematics and science in conjunction with
- hands-on electronics skills. Generally, teachers demonstrate
- techniques, have students apply them, and critique the students'
- work so that they can learn from their mistakes. For example,
- welding instructors show students various welding techniques,
- including the use of tools and equipment, watch students use the
- techniques, and have them repeat procedures until students meet
- specific standards required by the trade.
-
- Adult education teachers who instruct in adult basic education
- programs may work with students who do not speak English; teach
- adults reading, writing, and mathematics up to the 8th-grade level;
- or teach adults through the 12th-grade level in preparation for the
- General Educational Development Examination (GED). The GED offers
- the equivalent of a high school diploma. These teachers may refer
- students for counseling or job placement. Because many people who
- need adult basic education are reluctant to seek it, teachers also
- may recruit participants.
-
- Adult education teachers also prepare lessons and assignments, grade
- papers and do related paperwork, attend faculty and professional
- meetings, and stay abreast of developments in their field. (For
- information on vocational education teachers in secondary schools,
- see the Handbook statement on kindergarten, elementary, and
- secondary school teachers.)
-
- Adult education teachers often work at night or on weekends.
-
- Working Conditions
-
- Since adult education teachers work with adult students, they do not
- encounter some of the behavioral or social problems sometimes found
- when teaching younger students. The adults are there by choice, and
- usually are highly motivated attributes that can make teaching these
- students rewarding and satisfying. However, teachers in adult basic
- education deal with students at different levels of development who
- may lack effective study skills and self-confidence, and who may
- require more attention and patience than other students.
-
- Many adult education teachers work part time. To accommodate
- students who may have job or family responsibilities, many courses
- are offered at night or on weekends, and range from 2- to 4-hour
- workshops and 1-day minisessions to semester-long courses.
-
- Employment
-
- Adult education teachers held about 540,000 jobs in 1992. About 4
- out of 10 taught part time, a larger proportion than for other
- teachers, and many taught only intermittently. However, many of
- them also held other jobs, in many cases doing work related to the
- subject they taught. Many adult education teachers are
- self-employed.
-
- Adult education teachers are employed by public school systems;
- community and junior colleges; universities; businesses that provide
- formal education and training for their employees; automotive
- repair, bartending, business, computer, electronics, medical
- technology, and similar schools and institutes; dance studios;
- health clubs; job training centers; community organizations; labor
- unions; and religious organizations.
-
- Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
-
- Training requirements vary widely by State and by subject. In
- general, teachers need work or other experience in their field, and
- a license or certificate in fields where these usually are required
- for full professional status. In some cases, particularly at
- educational institutions, a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree
- is required, especially to teach courses which can be applied toward
- a 4-year degree program. In other cases, an acceptable portfolio of
- work is required. For example, to secure a job teaching a flower
- arranging course, an applicant would need to show examples of
- previous work.
-
- Most States and the District of Columbia require adult basic
- education teachers to have a bachelor's degree from an approved
- teacher training program, and some require teacher certification.
-
- Adult education teachers update their skills through continuing
- education to maintain certification requirements vary among
- institutions. Teachers may take part in seminars, conferences, or
- graduate courses in adult education, training and development, or
- human resources development, or may return to work in business or
- industry for a limited time.
-
- Adult education teachers should communicate and relate well with
- students, enjoy working with them, and be able to motivate them.
- Adult basic education instructors, in particular, must be patient,
- understanding, and supportive to make students comfortable, develop
- trust, and help them better understand their needs and aims.
-
- Some teachers advance to administrative positions in departments of
- education, colleges and universities, and corporate training
- departments. Such positions may require advanced degrees, such as a
- doctorate in adult and continuing education. (See statement on
- education administrators elsewhere in the Handbook.)
-
- Job Outlook
-
- Employment of adult education teachers is expected to grow faster
- than the average for all occupations through the year 2005 as the
- demand for adult education programs continues to rise.
- Participation in continuing education increases as the educational
- attainment of the population increases. More people are realizing
- that life-long learning is important to success in their careers.
- To keep abreast of changes in their fields and advances in
- technology, an increasing number of adults are taking courses for
- career advancement, skills upgrading, and personal enrichment,
- spurring demand for adult education teachers. In addition,
- enrollment in adult basic education programs is increasing because
- of changes in immigration policy that require basic competency in
- English and civics, and an increased awareness of the difficulty in
- finding a good job without basic academic skills.
-
- Employment growth of adult vocational-technical education teachers
- will result from the need to train young adults for entry level
- jobs, and experienced workers who want to switch fields or whose
- jobs have been eliminated due to changing technology or business
- reorganization. In addition, increased cooperation between
- businesses and educational institutions to insure that students are
- taught the skills employers desire should result in greater demand
- for adult education teachers, particularly at community and junior
- colleges. Since adult education programs receive State and Federal
- funding, employment growth may be affected by government budgets.
-
- Many job openings for adult education teachers will stem from the
- need to replace persons who leave the occupation. Many teach part
- time and move into and out of the occupation for other jobs, family
- responsibilities, or to retire. Opportunities will be best in
- fields such as computer technology, automotive mechanics, and
- medical technology, which offer very attractive, and often higher
- paying, job opportunities outside of teaching.
-
- Earnings
-
- In 1992, salaried adult education teachers who usually worked full
- time had median earnings around $26,900 a year. The middle 50
- percent earned between $18,700 and $38,800. The lowest 10 percent
- earned less than $13,500, while the top 10 percent earned more than
- $49,200. Earnings varied widely by subject, academic credentials,
- experience, and region of the country. Part-timers generally are
- paid hourly wages and do not receive benefits or pay for preparation
- time outside of class.
-
- Related Occupations
-
- Adult education teaching requires a wide variety of skills and
- aptitudes, including the power to influence, motivate, and train
- others; organizational, administrative, and communication skills;
- and creativity. Workers in other occupations that require these
- aptitudes include other teachers, counselors, school administrators,
- public relations specialists, employee development specialists and
- interviewers, and social workers.
-
- Sources of Additional Information
-
- Information on adult basic education programs and teacher
- certification requirements is available from State departments of
- education and local school districts.
-
- For information about adult vocational-technical education teaching
- positions, contact State departments of vocational-technical
- education.
-
- For information on adult continuing education teaching positions,
- contact departments of local government, State adult education
- departments, schools, colleges and universities, religious
- organizations, and a wide range of businesses that provide formal
- training for their employees.
-
- General information on adult education is available from:
-
- American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, 1101
- Connecticut Ave. NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036.
-
- American Vocational Association, 1410 King St., Alexandria, VA
- 22314.
-
- ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, 1900
- Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH 43210-1090.
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