Learning for Life: The Opportunity for Technology to Transform Adult Education

This publication series, Learning for Life: The Opportunity for Technology to Transform Adult Education, explores technology readiness, access, and use within various adult education delivery channels.

Author(s)
Adam Newman
Author(s) Organizational Affiliation
Tyton Partners
Publication Year
2015
Resource Type
Research
Abstract

This publication series, Learning for Life: The Opportunity for Technology to Transform Adult Education, explores technology readiness, access, and use within various adult education delivery channels, as well as market opportunities, program decision-making processes, and the supplier ecosystem for instructional resources. The research and analysis featured in these publications will assist suppliers, investors, policy professionals, and institutions as they explore opportunities in the adult education market. 

This report is based on comprehensive research conducted on the role of and potential for instructional technologies in the U.S. adult education field through a national survey of more than 1,000 adult educators and program administrators to determine their interest in, aptitude for, and current use of technology-based instructional resources.

There are two parts to this series:

  • Part 1: Interest and Aptitude for Technology
  • Part 2: The Supplier Ecosystem
What the experts say

The data and information gathered in this study provides credible and current input to help the field of adult education increase the effective use of technology to reach more adult learners. The recommendations that resulted from this study promise to create more collaborative efforts to fill the technology gaps that currently challenge programs and to promote the development of content that specifically addresses adults, especially through mobile devices. 

This national survey of adult basic skills practitioners' access to and use of technology is unique. For adult educators, the greatest value may be as a platform to engage their students and colleagues in discussions about access to and use of technology for education purposes. The survey can stimulate valuable discussion, as is evidence by the LINCS community of practice discussion featuring the resource's lead author. Teachers could administer a modified version of this survey in their classrooms to open up a discussion of technology with learners. Several of the graphs may be useful for teachers to share with their students (e.g. Benefits of Technology in Education, Estimated Smartphone Ownership Among Adult Education Students). 

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