Curriculum Building for Adult Learning

Too often adult-education programs fal­ter because those who set them up lack sources to turn to for guidance in plan­ning curricula; now John R. Verduin, Jr., provides a framework, a general model educators can use for effective curriculum building.

Verduin’s theoretical approach fea­tures a curriculum model consisting of five major elements: rationale (direction, philosophical position); outside political forces; goals; instruction; and evalua­tion. Each element receives chapter-length treatment. The discussion is gen­eral and the principles derived are broad enough to apply to any adult-learning program. Verduin’s goal is to provide a framework within which the adult edu­cator can make intelligent decisions. In the last chapter, however, he turns from general discussion to specific application of the models, constructs, and ideas ex­plored in this book. Ideas in this chapter should help those involved in adult edu­cation make the transition from a theo­retical model to actual curriculum work.