ABSTRACT
The design of instructional environments for language and literacy learning by adults is made difficult by the great diversity of adults as individuals and by the situational and organizational contexts in which adults are found. Because of this diversity, adult educators need to possess an extensive body of knowledge and professional expertise that goes well beyond what is typically the case today. These three topics, the diversity of adult learners, the diversity of learning contexts, and the professional education of adult educators, are discussed in this chapter.
