The Beacon Project – Digital Promise

The Beacon Project

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Our Adult Learning Beacon Project shines a light on communities using technology in ambitious and innovative ways to support adult learners.

Our Beacons’ stories of how they address common challenges show what it takes to develop and scale effective adult learning across multiple partnerships. Through their work at the leading edge of integrating technology into adult learning, we can understand and amplify new models and practices.

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      Our Beacons

      Access Green, LLC, Washington, D.C.

      Innovation:

      Designing soft skills and workforce development digital modules for the needs of underserved populations

      Access Green, LLC, is an energy conservation firm. As part of their mission, Access Green focuses on hiring from underserved populations and supporting these employees for careers in green construction through education, training, and mentoring.


      Building Skills Partnership, California

      Innovation:

      Developing a blended learning curriculum to provide low-skilled adults educational opportunities at their worksites

      Building Skills Partnership (BSP) develops partnerships among janitorial contractors; corporations such as Google, Facebook, and Cisco; and the Service Employees International Union to support over 2,500 low-wage workers a year with blended learning.


      Chicago Public Library, Illinois

      Innovation:

      Serving patrons’ specific needs by developing custom ed-tech products and services

      Chicago Public Library (CPL) strives to find new ways to educate its patrons to help them improve their lives. They offer a host of classes that integrate technology, ranging from basic computing up to intermediate HTML and CSS courses.


      Community Action, Inc., of Central Texas, Texas

      Innovation: 

      Partnering with a developer to create a mobile ELL product designed for adult learners’ busy lives

      Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas (CAI) is a community-based nonprofit organization that integrates technology into all of its programs: adult literacy education, GED preparation, and ELL programs.


      Florida Adult and Technical Distance Education Consortium, Florida

      Innovation: Joining forces to leverage ed-tech buying power and resources in support of adult learners

      The Florida Adult and Technical Distance Education Consortium (FATDEC) is a group of public schools, school districts, and community colleges who work together to leverage their buying power to provide digital solutions and professional development.


      Kentucky Educational Television, Kentucky

      Innovation: Leveraging the role and reach of public TV on behalf of adult learners

      Kentucky Educational Television (KET) is a PBS member station widely recognized as a leader in developing digital learning opportunities for adult basic skills and workplace education.


      Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Education Services, New York

      Innovation: 

      Offering ESL, computer skills, and high school equivalency classes at the county jail and in local orchards

      The Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services (O/N BOCES) provides programs for underserved adults, supporting the community by paying equal attention to the academic and social needs of their learners.


      The Philadelphia Office of Adult Education, Pennsylvania

      Innovation:

      Creating myPLACE, a network of hubs including myPLACE online, offering literacy, math, and career skills courses

      The Office of Education (OAE) works with over 80 literacy and workforce development programs to help adults with below-basic education levels qualify for jobs, post-secondary training, and education.


      Project I-DEA by Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Washington

      Innovation: Transforming English language learning with “flipped” classrooms

      The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges’ (SBCTC) Project I-DEA uses digital technology to provide “flipped” classrooms for adult English language learners.


      Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative, Rhode Island

      Innovation: 

      Creating a free lending system for devices and wifi hotspots to provide underserved learners with full access

      Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative (RIFLI) equips adult immigrants with the literacy skills for upward mobility, engaged citizenship, strong families, and lifelong learning through both onsite classes and full access outside of the classroom.


       Savannah Technical College, Georgia

      Innovation:

      Linking the technology curriculum directly to job opportunities in the local area

      At Savannah Technical College (STC), students can earn certificates and diplomas in aircraft structures manufacturing and repair, luxury craft cabinetmaking, and aircraft electrical equipment repair and installation.


      Students and Parents in Cooperative Education Family Literacy Program, Maine

      Innovation: Developing a virtual learning center to help alleviate the rural isolation

       felt by their adult learners

      In support of their rural parents, Students and Parents in Cooperative Education Family Literacy Program (SPICE) has pushed the boundaries of technology integration, moving beyond blended learning to developing a virtual learning center.


      YouthBuild USA, Inc., Nationwide

      Innovation: Developing a digital platform that customizes career and postsecondary exploration for Opportunity Youth with support from caring adults

      YouthBuild USA, Inc., is an international intermediary for more than 250 community-based YouthBuild programs and schools around the U.S. Each year, approximately 9,000 low-income young people, also known as Opportunity Youth, enroll full-time in YouthBuild programs.

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