Adult Learning – Digital Promise

Adult Learning

Digital Promise is working to improve digital learning opportunities for underserved adults in the United States. We connect entrepreneurs, educators, and researchers to support and advance the development and use of educational technology that expands career pathways and improves the quality of life for these learners.
When it comes to promoting social mobility for adult learners, technology is both a challenge and a solution. The Adult Learning Initiative explores the impact of digital tools and technologies on working-age adults today. We bring together researchers, learning providers, industry partners, and adult learners to reduce inequities, build stronger networks, and close the digital skills gap. We work to prioritize the inclusion of people who are most often excluded from education and career advancement opportunities.

Our Strategy

The Adult Learning Initiative develops projects in three key areas:

 

  1. Leading and promoting equity-centered research informed by, inclusive of, and relevant to adult learners and workers.
  2. Creating and collaborating in networks of educators and industry leaders with shared goals and values.
  3. Expanding equitable access to the digital skills, tools, and credentials needed to succeed.

2014

The Adult Learning Initiative was launched with the Beacon Project, bringing together a network of programs using technology in powerful ways to support adult education and workforce development.

2015-16

We expanded the Beacon Project network, and identified key challenges in adult learning, such as the digital skills gap and lack of coordination across stakeholders.

2017-19

We partnered with Facebook to develop social media marketing training and micro-credentials, working with 39 providers to train approximately 3,000 learners.

2019

We launched Tapping Data for Frontline Talent Development to outline the use of data and collaboration across the adult learning ecosystem serving frontline workers.

2020

We published Building Networks for Frontline Advancement to promote actionable strategies for a more collaborative, data-driven, and worker-centered adult learning ecosystem.

2021

In partnership with the Learner Variability Project, we released the Adult Learner Model, a research-based whole learner framework to support adult learning. We launched research projects related to the design and use of micro-credentials and Learning and Employment Records (LERs).

2022

We are focused on engaging directly with adult learners to understand the potential impact of Learning and Employment Records and Micro-credentials on social mobility. We also partnered with the Barbara Bush Foundation and others to promote digital literacy for adult learners.

Improving learning with the power of technology

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