Program Development in Adult Education and Training

The authors, in this chapter, explore the ways in which adult educators and trainers play a part in managing the process of learning. The term 'program' is defined and examples of educational programs are described, including how programs are started, the people involved in the design and implementation of a program and the contexts in which program development takes place. A number of approaches to program development are discussed, key theories are identified and the strengths and weaknesses of various models and the changes of emphasis in various theories of program development are examined. The authors conclude that the literature of adult education and training contains many ideas and models for those developing programs to draw on and the design of learning should be approached as a creative process.