Concern for the
needs and characteristics of adult learners, dedication to instructional
excellence and responsiveness to community needs mark the basic philosophy
and operational foundations of the program.
Primarily addressing
the educational interests of adults 18 years of age and
over, the program also strives to provide appropriate academic,
personal and social support services including placement
testing, tutoring and other services to meet the needs of adult learners.
The program aims
to provide a supportive environment enabling the adult learner to
re-enter and complete an instructional program suited to the achievement
of individual education goals and aims to assist the adult learner
in making the complex transitions characteristic of life in a rapidly
changing technological society.
As Wright College's
newest division, the Adult Education emphasizes building a strong
program of high quality, well-integrated into the college in areas
of administration, planning, facilities, instruction, staff development,
community involvement, public relations, evaluation, and student services.
The Adult Education
represents to all-- regardless of race, color, ethnic background or
religion-- Wright College's response to an important need within our
community and acknowledges its rich diversity of neighborhoods and
ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Instructional
Philosophy
Instructors are
selected based on appropriate academic and professional background
as well as ability and experience teaching adult learners. Care is
taken to seek adult educators who are patient, versatile, quickly
analytical, humorous, optimistic, understanding, creative, perceptive,
flexible, and interested in fostering the adult student's ability
to assume responsibility for his/her own learning.
Instructional
services of the program are based on the following assumptions about
the nature of the adult learner:
1. Adults are
accustomed to being treated as mature persons and enjoy having their
talents and information made use of in a teaching situation. Adults
are realistic due to their life experiences, although some require
assistance in formulating realistic educational goals. They are
often impatient and easily discouraged in the pursuit of learning
objectives.
2. All adults
are capable of learning in an appropriate educational environment.
3. Adults are
usually highly motivated. They attend class voluntarily and if interest
is lacking, they are inclined to drop out. They do not comprise
a captive audience. The adult learner often has compelling responsibilities
competing with education, typically juggling important work and
family responsibilities.
4. Adults attend
class often with a mixture of educational, social, recreational,
vocational or occupational motives.
5. Groups of
adult learners are likely to be heterogenous and comprised of individuals
from a wide variety of backgrounds, life experiences, formal educational
levels, interests, and aptitudes.
Adult Education
Courses Wright College's Adult Education offers the following
courses:
- LITERACY TRAINING: This is a beginning level course which emphasizes
reading skills such as vocabulary, comprehension, pronunciation,
spelling, grammar, and punctuation. The basic math program includes
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- PRE-GED PREPARATION: This is an intermediate level which includes
math skills such as percents, fractions, decimals, and word problems.
English and Reading include vocabulary, spelling, outlining, identifying
the main idea and cause and effect concepts. Reading skills in content
areas such as science and social studies are also included. This
level is also known as Adult Basic Education (ABE).
- GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PREPARATION: This is an advanced level
which provides intensive instruction in Reading, Mathematics and
English. Interpretation of data, charts and graphs, concepts of
powers and roots, use of deductive and inductive reasoning, predicting
outcomes, and essay writing are additional skills developed to master
areas covered on the GED test. The required Constitution examination
is also offered at the GED level.
- ENGLISH
AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL): The ESL program provides instruction
for students who are not proficient in English. ESL classes are
offered at the Literacy, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced levels.
The curriculum is organized to teach listening, speaking, reading
and writing skills appropriate to each level. Worksite ESL classes
are also provided in conjunction with employers to provide job-
related English instruction.
Students with
disabilities enrolled in the Adult Education should contact the Adult
Education office for information and services available to them.
Classes fill quickly.
For more information, please call (773) 481-8821, (773)
481-8822, (773) 481-8823. The Adult Education office is
located in Room A205 at the Main
Campus.
ALL CLASSES
ARE FREE OF CHARGE.
BOOKS AND MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED.
Wright College's
Adult Education offers the following courses :