Education technology initiatives have exploded in recent years. School districts at the elementary and secondary level have purchased tablets, laptops, and Chromebooks while digital programming companies have produced new educational applications for their students. Testing companies have created adaptive versions of assessments that tailor questions to a student’s performance on test day. Colleges and universities have moved more coursework online, expecting students to do more and go further because of digital tools.
But a major segment of the student population has largely been left out of the innovation surge — adult students lacking basic math and literacy skills. According to a new report by education consulting firm Tyton Partners, there is demand for instructional technologies in this sector but very little supply.
Tanya Rosbash, a principal at Tyton Partners and co-author of the report, said the adult education market has been relatively untapped when it comes to ed tech because of its diversity. Whereas the K-12 and post-secondary markets have customer bases that share a basic, overarching system, the adult education sector is full of heterogeneity.
The new report, "Interest in and Aptitude for Technology," serves as part one of a two-part project called "Learning for Life: The Opportunity for Technology to Transform Adult Education." The report, prepared following surveys and interviews with more than 1,000 people in the adult education field, identifies eight different adult education program models:
- Adult Basic Education, which targets adult students with proficiency levels that fall below the ninth grade level;
- Adult Secondary Education, which focuses on students who are at or above the ninth grade level;
- English as a Second Language;
- Basic Adult Literacy, for those learning to read;
- High School Equivalency Exam Preparation;
- Remedial or Developmental Education, for students entering college with learning deficiencies;
- Integrated Education and Training, which combines adult education services and job training; and
- Workforce Readiness Training.
One respondent, quoted in the report, aptly says “it’s a messy space.”
But Tyton Partners — and the Joyce Foundation, which commissioned the report — believes there is a way to serve the sector. Right now adult educators are using digital tools designed for younger students in traditional education programs. Adults with ninth grade competencies do not have the same life experiences as ninth graders and should not be taught with the same materials.
“There are absolutely smart people thinking about this space and trying to do some interesting things but the market remains underdeveloped,” Rosbash said. “The opportunity to increase innovation and increase focus in this space is really huge.”
The report highlights widespread smartphone use among adult education students, even those who do not have access to computers at home. New apps for smartphones could help these students learn faster and better prepare them for the job market. With 36 million adults lacking basic skills, innovative ways of reaching them are critical for communities and the wider economy.
Part one of the Learning for Life project focuses on demand, using information from educators in the field to make a case for increased attention to ed tech in the adult education niche. Part two, expected later this spring, will focus on supply.
“There are definitely challenges that face this field,” Rosbash said, “and as we start to look at the supplier ecosystem in the second paper, we’ll pair the opportunities with the challenges and discuss ways the market can evolve and mature.”
Would you like to see more education news like this in your inbox on a daily basis? Subscribe to our Education Dive email newsletter! You may also want to read Education Dive's look at AAUW's new recommendations for improving women's presence in STEM fields.