The Council of Adult Education (CAE) is a unique educational institution situated in the centre of the city of Melbourne. It provides a broad range of adult education ranging from fee paying liberal arts to publicly funded further education programs and vocational education and training. Adults travel from all over the metropolitan area to participate.  It caters for beginner adult learners, those preparing for the Victorian Certificate of Education, vocational training and other programs such as for state enrolled nurses, the defence forces and home carers.

The General Education Department at the CAE provides adult literacy and basic education courses. These are conducted within the framework of the Certificates in General Education for Adults (CGEA). The CAE follows an integrated approach to literacy learning. Beginner learners are given a choice of areas to study including reading, writing, oracy and numeracy as well as subject areas like Australian History, Life skills, Cooking and Health, Rights and Responsibilities, and Science and Technology.

This snapshot looks at the Science and Technology course, an elective subject for beginner learners studying at the CAE. The course had been designed as a General Curriculum Option within the CGEA. It demonstrates how the National Reporting System (NRS) can capture the activities of an integrated adult literacy and basic education course.

Setting up the program and selecting participants

Initial or Placement Assessment

Developing the curriculum and assessment processes

Deliver the Program

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the program