National Adult Learning Survey 2001

The National Adult Learning Survey (NALS) series began with a baseline survey in 1997 which explored participation in a wide range of adult learning activities in the United Kingdom (UK). Further surveys were conducted in 2000 and 2001 and the series is used by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to monitor the effectiveness of its adult learning policies and progress towards the National Learning Target for adult participation. This report presents the results from NALS 2001 which included for the first time those over the age of 69 in order to track participation in learning among older people. The survey questioned participants about a variety of learning experiences, either ‘taught learning’, involving some formal teaching, or ‘self-directed learning’, over the previous three years. The report draws on the results of NALS 2001 to examine learning trends, learning among different groups, obstacles and incentives to learning, ‘taught’ and ‘self-directed’ learning, use of and attitudes towards information communication and technology (ICT), social capital and learning (involvement in leisure activities and voluntary/community activities and their relationship to learning), information, knowledge and attitudes about learning, and future learning intentions. Show less