Key Research and Organizations
These key education technology research studies and leading professional organizations for adult education and workforce development provide an overview of the adult learning market.
Use the filters to find the resources you need, and to dive deeper into the market, visit our Understanding the Market and Entering the Market pages.
Featured Reports and Resources
Integrating Digital Tools for Adult Learners: Four Critical Factors
If we believe in the potential of technology to bring quality digital learning opportunities to this underserved population, what can we do to accelerate adoption? Drawn from a study we supported of digital learning technologies’ effectiveness in adult basic education, this paper explores four factors that contribute to effective implementation of technology.Categories: Adult Learning, Developers, Educators, Entrepreneurs, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Report, Research, Researchers
Shift Happens: The Entrepreneurs, Wonks, and Investors Revolutionizing the Learning-to-Employment Landscape
This report makes the case that closing the skills gap by ending the monoculture of degrees, ending pedigree and degree-based hiring, and growing a diversity of faster, less expensive, and respected pathways to high-value employment is the calling of our time.Categories: Adult Learning, Educators, Entrepreneurs, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Report, Research, Trends and Thought Leadership
Integrating Digital Tools for Adult Learners: Four Critical Factors
If we believe in the potential of technology to bring quality digital learning opportunities to this underserved population, what can we do to accelerate adoption? Drawn from a study we supported of digital learning technologies’ effectiveness in adult basic education, this paper explores four factors that contribute to effective implementation of technology.Categories: Adult Learning, Developers, Educators, Entrepreneurs, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Report, Research, Researchers
Shift Happens: The Entrepreneurs, Wonks, and Investors Revolutionizing the Learning-to-Employment Landscape
This report makes the case that closing the skills gap by ending the monoculture of degrees, ending pedigree and degree-based hiring, and growing a diversity of faster, less expensive, and respected pathways to high-value employment is the calling of our time.Categories: Adult Learning, Educators, Entrepreneurs, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Report, Research, Trends and Thought Leadership
The National Broadband Research Agenda
Digital Promise partnered with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy to respond to the public call for comments so we can ensure inclusion of adult learners in the National Broadband Research Agenda. Read our comment and all of the comments submitted.Categories: Adult Learning, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Research, Trends and Thought Leadership, Website
Digital Inclusion and Digital Literacy in the United States: A Portrait from PIAAC’s Survey of Adult Skills
This paper uses U.S. data from the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) to explore a digital inclusion pathway for adult learners from digital access to digital literacy. Of particular interest are findings showing the importance of digital skills for earnings growth.Categories: Adult Learning, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Research, Trends and Thought Leadership
Digital Readiness Gaps
The Pew Research Center uses new survey findings to examine digital readiness in adult learners, exploring the attitudes and behaviors underpinning issues of preparedness and comfort in using digital tools for learning.Categories: Adult Learning, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Report, Research
Curbing Adult Student Attrition: Evidence from a Field Experiment
An experiment designed to improve attendance by texting messages and reminders to adult students. This inexpensive intervention had a large, positive effect on attendance and course completion.Categories: Adult Learning, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Report, Research, Tools and Best Practices
Education Technology in Corrections
This report describes the current status of ed-tech in corrections, existing and emerging approaches to providing ed-tech in such facilities, and the successes and challenges of early implementers.Categories: Adult Learning, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Report, Research, Trends and Thought Leadership
Digital Literacy Acquisition and Equity Research
The Literacy, Language & Technology Research Group's (LLTR) 17 research briefs on how under-served adults acquire digital literacy skills in adult education programs.Categories: Adult Learning, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Research, Tools and Best Practices, Website
Integrating Digital Literacy Into English Language Instruction: Companion Learning Resource
A synthesis of the ideas and practices from the seminal resources on adult English language learners (ELLs) that offers techniques to help practitioners integrate digital literacy into ELL classes.Categories: Adult Learning, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Report, Research, Tools and Best Practices
Report: Game-Based Learning Helps Students Develop Writing Skills
This pilot of a game-based learning platform show improved college student engagement and self-efficacy in writing courses. These results can be extrapolated to develop literacy programs for adults.Categories: Adult Learning, Key Research and Organizations, Key Research on Technology, Learning, & Adults, Report, Research, Trends and Thought Leadership