The field of adult education is marked by a variety of names, some of which can be confusing or ambiguous to those both within and outside the field. Terms like Adult Education, Adult Literacy, Adult Education and Literacy, and Adult Basic Education (ABE) often lack clarity in their definition and scope.
Adult Education: While clear to professionals in the field, this term can be misconstrued by those outside it, who may associate it with higher education or non-credit courses for personal development. Adult Literacy: This term varies in meaning, sometimes referring to basic reading and writing skills, and other times encompassing a broader spectrum of adult education services. Adult Education and Family Literacy: Used in federal legislation like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), this term may not fully convey the range of services offered, particularly for immigrants and refugees. Adult Basic Education: This term, with its dual meanings ranging from basic literacy to comprehensive education services, adds further confusion to the mix.
The lack of a clear and consistent name for the field hampers advocacy efforts and understanding among stakeholders. To address this issue, members of the Open Door Collective (ODC) embarked on a mission in 2021 to find a new name and definition that would accurately represent the field’s breadth and significance.
The chosen name, initially proposed as Adult Foundational Skills, was later refined to Adult Foundational Education (AFE) based on feedback from the LINCS Community’s Teaching and Learning Group and the AAACE-NLA Google group. This change reflects a more comprehensive view of education beyond mere skills acquisition.
Adult Foundational Education serves as an umbrella term that distinguishes the field from other forms of education, acknowledges the range of learning needed for postsecondary education and training, and respects adult learners by avoiding potentially demeaning connotations. Moreover, it allows for the inclusion of emerging areas like digital literacy and integrated education and training (IET) without excluding any providers or approaches within the field.
By embracing Adult Foundational Education, the field aims to promote a holistic and problem-solving approach to education that empowers adult learners to build a strong foundation for lifelong success.