Curriculum and instruction in high-quality IET programs are contextualized and relevant for students’ workforce-related objectives. Resources in this section support curriculum development and instructional strategies, including application and/or integration of the three required elements of IET design (i.e., workforce preparation, workforce training, adult education and literacy activities) and alignment with industry.
The first section of this page provides a listing of core elements of curriculum and instruction development and delivery; it includes non-instructional resources that provide guidance in this process. The second section of this page provides industry- and workplace-specific instructional resources that can be leveraged as you design your IET curriculum.
Non-Instructional Resources
Incorporating Core Components
The resources in Incorporating Core Components support high-quality instruction that integrates the three required elements: adult education and literacy, workforce preparation, and workforce training.
CALPRO/CASAS IET Webinar: Introduction to Designing a Single Set of Learning Objectives (and Associated Worksheet)
CALPRO (2019)
This webinar recording provides adult basic education professionals an overview of IET through the lens of Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) in California. The video also provides support for the process of creating a single set of learning objectives (SSLO) for IET or IELCE. This resource also includes an associated worksheet to support developing an SSLO.
Minnesota Adult Education Professional Development YouTube Channel
Minnesota Adult Education and ATLAS (2018)
This YouTube channel includes multiple videos focused on IET programming, including IET course and objectives design (with an emphasis on developing a single set of learning objectives) and fostering employer and regional collaboration for adult career pathways.
Writing Quality Integrated Learning Outcomes
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
This resource outlines a collaborative planning process for developing integrated learning outcomes and assessment for an Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) program. While specific to I-BEST, the steps outlined can be applied to the process of developing a single set of learning objectives for IET instruction.
Integrating Curriculum: Lessons for Adult Education from Career and Technical Education
MPR Associates, Inc. (2010)
This report examines integrated curriculum as a strategy that has been implemented in career and technical education programs in high schools and holds promise for preparing students for career advancement and training or postsecondary education.
Industry Input
The resources in Industry Input support the knowledge, skills, and credentials required for employment in the sector, as identified by industry and employer experts.
Career Pathways Toolkit: An Enhanced Guide and Workbook for System Development
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Manhattan Strategy Group (2016)
The Career Pathways Toolkit includes writeable worksheets that can help state and program teams develop, maintain, and enhance career pathways systems and programs. Element 3 provides detailed guidance on leveraging industry input in designing IET curriculum.
Authentic Alignment/Credentials
The resources in Authentic Alignment/Credentials support connection to real-world work situations and responsiveness to industry needs.
Future Skills Update and Literature Review
Institute for the Future (2016)
This paper explores the work skills that will be needed in the future and the ways in which educational institutions will need to more fully integrate them into workforce training.
Instructional Resources
The resources within this section can be used to support the development of IET curriculum. While most of these examples are not specifically designed for IET programming, they all provide industry-specific content and/or contextualized skill development aligned with the core components that support quality IET instruction.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing Contextualized Bridge Curriculum
Illinois Community College Board (2013)
This bridge curriculum includes a set of modules that include career awareness and academic skills contextualized to the manufacturing industry. The materials are appropriate for incorporation into an IET program or for supporting a bridge course, and they combine the three core components of IET instruction. The curriculum introduces key concepts and terminology as they are integrated into basic skills instruction.
Manufacturing Bridge Semester 1 Lesson Plans for Reading & Writing
City Colleges of Chicago and Women Employed (2018)
This comprehensive bridge curriculum includes 16 lessons designed to improve the basic reading and writing skills of adult basic education students at the sixth- to eighth-grade literacy level or above. Each lesson incorporates key manufacturing issues that are relevant to their lives and the manufacturing field.
Manufacturing Bridge Semester 2 Lesson Plans for Reading & Writing
City Colleges of Chicago and Women Employed (2018)
This comprehensive bridge curriculum includes 16 lessons designed to improve the basic reading and writing skills of adult secondary education students at the ninth-grade literacy level or above. Each lesson incorporates key manufacturing issues that are relevant to their lives and the manufacturing field.
Machine Operator (ATLAS)
Metro North ABE (2017)
This training curriculum prepares students with the math skills they need to be successful in a machine shop. The focus is on basic math skills, such as working with fractions, decimals, percentages, proportions, and algebra, limited blueprint reading, accurate ruler reading, understanding tolerances, and conversions. The materials include instructor lesson plans, student handouts, and presentations, all of which can all be saved, copied, and adapted.
Health Sciences
Healthcare Contextualized Bridge Curriculum
Illinois Community College Board (2013)
This bridge curriculum includes a set of modules that include career awareness and academic skills contextualized to the healthcare industry. The materials are appropriate for incorporation into an IET program or for supporting a bridge course, and they combine the three core components of IET instruction. The curriculum introduces key concepts and terminology as they are integrated into basic skills instruction.
Healthcare Bridge Semester 1 Lesson Plans for Reading & Writing
City Colleges of Chicago and Women Employed (2017)
This comprehensive bridge curriculum includes 16 lessons designed to improve the basic reading and writing skills of adult basic education students at the sixth- to eighth-grade literacy level or above. Each lesson incorporates key healthcare industry issues that are relevant to their lives and the healthcare field.
Healthcare Bridge Semester 2 Lesson Plans for Reading & Writing
City Colleges of Chicago and Women Employed (2018)
This comprehensive bridge curriculum includes 16 lessons designed to improve the basic reading and writing skills of adult basic education students at the sixth- to eighth-grade literacy level or above. Each lesson incorporates key healthcare industry issues that are relevant to their lives and the healthcare field.
Health Careers: A Guide to Finding Entry-Level Jobs in Health Care
Florida Literacy Coalition (2017)
Resource for adult learners interested in exploring the wide range of career opportunities in health care. Written in plain language, the guide is suitable for learners at a fifth-grade reading level or higher as well as for English language learners at an intermediate level or higher. The guide focuses on careers requiring two years or less of training. It can be used as a curriculum or a stand-alone resource for students. In addition to providing job skill and training resources, the guide highlights 30 health occupations in four areas: (1) patient care, (2) imaging and diagnostics, (3) administration and support services, and (4) health information and records.
Bridge to Healthcare Careers: PreCNA/PCA/CFSS Outline of Lesson Content
Originally created by Brigid Erickson; adapted by Reneé Kostner (May 2021) and Mary Grady-Elsenheimer (January 2022)
This curriculum is designed to prepare adult students for the Minnesota Personal Care Assistant (PCA) and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) certification exams and to prepare students for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification course to become a resident care assistant at a memory care/assisted living facility.
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL) Contextualized Bridge Curriculum
Illinois Community College Board (2012)
This bridge curriculum includes a set of modules that include career awareness and academic skills contextualized to the transportation, distribution and logistics industry. The materials are appropriate for incorporation into an IET program or for supporting a bridge course, and they combine the three core components of IET instruction. The curriculum introduces key concepts and terminology as they are integrated into basic skills instruction.
Lesson Plans for Reading & Writing in the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Career Bridge 1
City Colleges of Chicago and Women Employed (2017)
This comprehensive bridge curriculum includes 16 lessons designed to improve the basic reading and writing skills of adult basic education students at the sixth- to eighth-grade literacy level or above. Each lesson incorporates key TDL issues that are relevant to their lives and the TDL field.
Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics Bridge Semester 2 Lesson Plans for Reading & Writing
City Colleges of Chicago and Women Employed (2019)
This comprehensive bridge curriculum includes 16 lessons designed to improve the basic reading and writing skills of adult secondary education students at the ninth-grade literacy level or above. Each lesson incorporates key TDL issues that are relevant to their lives and the TDL field.
CDL Curriculum (Full Curriculum) (Individual Course Files)
St. Paul (Minnesota) Adult Basic Education (2011)
The Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) curriculum includes 80 hours of instruction. The materials are appropriate for a bridge course and combine the three core components of IET instruction. The materials focus on preparing students with the knowledge to pass the Minnesota CDL test but can be modified and adapted to reflect current practices in many states. The course includes reading passages, videos, handouts, and student materials with teacher answer keys. The individual course files link includes the activities as individual files and can be used to save, copy, and adapt most of the activities within the curriculum.
Information Technology
IT Bridge Contextualized Curriculum
Illinois Community College Board (2019)
This bridge curriculum includes a set of modules that include career awareness and academic skills contextualized to the information technology industry. The materials are appropriate for incorporation into an IET program or for supporting a bridge course, and they combine the three core components of IET instruction. The curriculum introduces key concepts and terminology as they are integrated into basic skills instruction.
Business
Entrepreneurial Contextualized Bridge Curriculum
Illinois Community College Board (2013)
This bridge curriculum includes a set of modules that include career awareness and academic skills contextualized to concepts of entrepreneurship. The materials are appropriate for incorporation into an IET program or for supporting a bridge course, and they combine the three core components of IET instruction. The curriculum introduces key concepts and terminology as they are integrated into basic skills instruction.
Other Industries
ServSafe Food Safety Class for ABE Learners
Hubbs Center for Adult Basic Education, Minnesota Department of Education and the FastTrack Bridge Project (2010)
This resource supports the teaching of specific education and training content that can be implemented by classroom instructors in the context of a particular career cluster.
Workforce Preparation
Adult Ed Med Contextualized Video Lessons
TCALL @Texas A&M (2021)
This website provides free contextualized video lessons and resources for adult educators and adult students. It includes 20 video lessons in English and 20 in Spanish in the following areas: ESL, workforce/technology, reasoning language arts, and mathematics.
Contextualized Adult Education and Industry
Preparing Workers for 21st Century Employment: Making Sense of Math at Work
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Office of Adult Education (2010)
This resource supports the teaching of specific education and training content that can be implemented by classroom instructors in the context of a particular career cluster.
Preparing Workers for the 21st Century: Written Communication in the Workplace
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Office of Adult Education (2008)
This resource supports the teaching of specific education and training content that can be implemented by classroom instructors in the context of a particular career cluster.