The same principles can be applied to the more informal means of teaching where the outside activity dominates or replaces the formal course. Careful preparation, readiness to help when required, and attention to whatever follow-up is appropriate are still necessary for success. In addition it is particularly important in this field that the teacher attempts to clarify his educational objectives. What is he hoping students will learn, and at what point? He can then more easily determine what resources are required and how readily available they should and could be.
..However, it is a commonplace in educational sociology to point out that there are many factors in an educational system which make it difficult for newly graduated, trained teachers to apply conscientiously the methods they have recently been taught. So it is appropriate to indicate in this conclusion some of the difficulties which are likely to be encountered by those teachers and organisers who aim to extend the range and effectiveness of adult education outside the classroom. Both obstacles. The wise practitioner will be aware of these and be prepared to deal with the problems.
...The classroom situation is by far the most familiar model for an education activity. The responsible body tradition of adult education has for a long time further emphasised the role of the teacher. In local authority adult education, 'the basis of the evening institute is class teaching'. The results of these traditions can be that teachers are faced with blank incomprehension when asking for additional facilities for other kinds of work. Indeed, the resources are often not available because they have not previously been requested.
...Organisational and administrative arrangements have tended to ossify the traditions. This is particularly true of the physical arrangements for adult education and its substantial reliance on part-time teachers. There are by no means enough purpose-built centres or even centres which can be easily adapted for adult purposes. Libraries, properly equipped activity rooms and so on are the exception. Administrative facilities are often negligible. The contributions of the London City Institutes and other adult education centres, both residential and non-residential to experimentation in teaching methods have been substantial and indicate the difficulties which must be tackled under other circumstances when such facilities are not available.
...More is required to effect a system of education than the skill, energy and willingess of individual teachers. Administrators and policy-makers must contribute. More full-time teachers and organisers are certainly required.
...Until more is known about the way in which adults learn, the precise contribution of activities outside the classroom cannot be dogmatically asserted. It is true, however, that those teachers who encourage such student work are rarely disappointed by its value and that those who have experimented with new forms of activity have been encouraged by the possibilities which emerge. Adult education should not ignore recent developments in primary and secondary education where the accent is on discovery. 'The need for carefully ordered, stimulating presentation is in no way minimised but the insistent requirement is that it must not take the form of a closed system'.