CREATE Adult Skills Network

📢 Calling all READING TEACHERS in adult education! Sign up to participate in this EdTech Maker Space. We're going to learn how to use digital tools to create reusable reading activities. These will be used to build SkillBlox and are part of a research effort to develop alternative assessments for adult education. Come learn and make with us! CREATE Adult Skills Network Javier Suárez-Álvarez, Ph.D. Jeff Goumas Jen Vanek

Writing is embedded in every aspect of adult learners' daily lives—from job applications to family communication. It is a crucial skill for adults pursuing high school equivalency, post-secondary education, career growth, and community engagement. Yet, learners in Adult Secondary Education (ASE) programs often face barriers to becoming confident, effective writers. ASE educators have limited research, tools, and preparation to guide learners. This gap leaves many adult learners without the writing support they need to achieve their goals. The W-ASE team is prioritizing writing instruction and providing more resources and research for ASE programs to empower adult learners to develop strong, adaptable writing skills—helping them build brighter futures and thrive in both work and life. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g6-4aCk5 #NationalDayonWriting #WhyIWrite

Digital inclusion is essential to ensuring that adult learners have access to the technology and resources they need to succeed. Within the CREATE network, our research teams are exploring the challenges of digital inclusion in adult education and developing a research base about effective ways to use technology in adult learning. Equitable access to technology can help bridge gaps in adult education, providing flexible learning options that meet adults where they are. However, barriers like access to devices, Wi-Fi, and digital skills still persist. CREATE research teams are tackling these issues head-on by designing interventions that build adult learners’ skills and improve their academic outcomes. We’re working to open doors to new educational and career opportunities for #AdultLearners, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age. Read about the lessons our teams have learned thus far: https://lnkd.in/dQZBnRut #DIW2024

🌐 In celebration of Digital Inclusion Week, we're excited to share a favorite resource from our Equity in Adult Education Research workgroup! Their brief on DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) in Adult Foundational Education (AFE), focuses on how technology can enhance #DigitalInclusion and support foundational skills. 📚💻 This resource is perfect for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of DEIA in AFE, especially as we continue to advance digital inclusion efforts. Join the movement and be part of the digital inclusion action! #DIW2024 Read the Brief: https://lnkd.in/gxyhN7UA #DIW2024

Ann Edwards and Brent Jackson of the Adult Numeracy in the Digital Era (ANDE) project just concluded an incredible and engaging session at #ProLitCon 2024! This project has developed a technology-enabled mathematics course for adult learners, with two standout components: 1️⃣ Collaborations – Students participate in rich, group-based mathematics work, fostering authentic discourse. 2️⃣ Productive Persistence Routines – These routines help cultivate positive mathematical mindsets and a sense of belonging in learners. During the session, Ann and Brent shared about the design principles and strategies that make this approach so effective. The focus on inclusion and support in math education was inspiring, and participants shared ideas on how to apply these strategies in their learning environments. 💡 Learn more about ANDE: https://lnkd.in/gkCYQjdT #DIW2024

🔎 Yesterday, Jeff Goumas of the TSTM-SkillBlox project joined Cynthia Peters in an amazing session exploring #DigitalEquity through use of The Change Agent (TCA) and SkillBlox at #ProLitCon 2024! During the session, participants learned how combining The Change Agent—an online magazine featuring adult learner writing—and SkillBlox, a free tool for creating reusable lessons using open educational resources, can spark powerful advocacy. Educators can design technology-rich lessons that empower adult learners to advocate for digital equity. You can build your own impactful lessons using TCA resources made available through the work of the TSTM-SkillBlox project! Learn more about TSTM-SkillBlox: https://lnkd.in/drpKgrS8  Explore The Change Agent SkillBlox: https://lnkd.in/ezTE6mJB

✍️ Daphne Greenberg and Christine Miller, PhD just finished presenting an impactful session on supporting #AdultLearners with their writing skills! Writing is a critical life skill, whether it’s for communicating with a landlord, completing applications, answering health questions, writing messages to coworkers, or writing an essay for the high school equivalency test. 📝 This session explored their study on adult literacy learners’ motivations for improving their writing and shared practical strategies and tech tools to help them achieve their writing goals. These insights, gained from the Writing in Adult Secondary Education (W-ASE) research project, are essential for educators looking to empower their learners with skills that directly impact their personal and professional lives. Learn more about W-ASE: https://lnkd.in/gYDka3d4 #ProLitCon

Aydin Durgunoglu, Elizabeth Tighe, and Erin Cary just finished up an amazing interactive session on Content-Integrated Language Instruction for Adults with Technology Support (CILIA-T)! This free, 16-module curriculum supports high intermediate/advanced English learners, offering detailed lesson plans that cover civics, US history, English proficiency, and digital skills. 💻 Whether you teach online or in-person, CILIA-T is flexible and meets both CCRS and ELP standards. It’s perfect for helping learners engage more fully in their communities. 🌟 Educators working with HSE/GED/HiSET students will also find it useful for teaching academic vocabulary, critical thinking, and digital literacy. Learn more about CILIA-T: https://lnkd.in/g2s6B5B5 #ProLitCon

🔔 Just wrapped up an insightful panel discussion with five CREATE Adult Skills Network research teams at the 2024 ProLiteracy Worldwide Conference! These federally funded research projects are driving innovation in #AdultEducation by developing and testing technology-enabled instruction and assessment. Attendees got to see exciting updates from our research teams, along with live demos of the edtech interventions designed to support adult learners in reading, writing, math, civics, and digital skills. 📚💻 The projects shared today are shaping the future of adult foundational education and #DigitalInclusion for all! Stay connected to see how they continue to evolve: https://lnkd.in/gT9KAC-N #DIW2024 #ProLitCon

Feeling a bit jealous we can't attend today's webinar! 💻 Today, adult educators are learning how to integrate digital activities into instruction using Open Educational Resources (#OER) through the EdTech Maker Space model. This innovative service-learning approach empowers educators to curate, adapt, and create reusable digital activities using #SkillBlox, helping fill resource gaps and promote flexible teaching practices. Hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the session with Dr. Jen Vanek highlights the federally funded work of the TSTM-SkillBlox project, shares early research insights, and provides access to the vast OER now available in SkillBlox. These tools and strategies are transforming adult education by making learning more engaging and accessible. Learn about the EdTech Maker Space: https://lnkd.in/djh9cqcB