- Basic computer skills
- Internet
- Windows OS
- Mac OS
- Social media
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Information literacy
- Supplement the instructor
- Design for life
- Engage the learner
- Build the community
- Connect the dots
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Abstract:
This open-access version of the Northstar Digital Literacy Project assessments can be used for assessing digital literacy skills to inform instruction.
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Publication Year
2018
The Northstar Digital Literacy Project offers online learning modules and assessments in ten categories:
What the experts say
Learners must be digitally literate in order to find and succeed in a career with family-sustaining wages. The Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment is a group of standards-based interactive assessment modules that measure adult digital literacy skills at a basic level. Each assessment moves the learner up a level in their digital literacy skills. The lessons are simple and easy to understand and navigate.
Many adult education teachers are seeking introductory courses in computer/digital literacy for themselves and their students. The Northstar Assessments are widely used in the fields of adult basic skills education and digital literacy skills. Designed specifically for adult basic skills (including ESL/ESOL) learners, the project began with designing a set of digital literacy standards that are acceptable to public libraries, adult basic skills educators and employers in Minnesota. The standards are based on the needs of low-literate adults as perceived by adult educators, librarians, and employment and training services specialists.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
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Abstract:
This online evaluation toolkit is designed to help financial educators understand evaluation concepts and efficiently apply them to document the impact their educational programs have on students.
Resource URL
Publication Year
2018
The NEFE Financial Education Evaluation Online Toolkit helps financial educators document the impact of their financial education programs on learners. Evaluation allows educators, administrators and funding agencies to make decisions about their programs based on objective data. It not only provides information about areas for improvement, but also demonstrates the impact of a course or program on participants.
After creating a free login account, teachers can create and save course evaluations. Users select what kind of evaluation to conduct and the type of impact indicators to include (e.g., Attitudinal, Knowledge). Instructors can create their own questions or select from over 800 questions from a question bank. The assessments can be printed out or instructors can send students a link to take it online. Completed assessments are automatically scored and teachers can view the results online or download them as an Excel spreadsheet. Teachers can create as many evaluations as they like and each can be saved and accessed later.
What the experts say
The NEFE Financial Education Evaluation Toolkit is an invaluable tool to financial literacy educators and financial literacy programs. The framework supports all financial literacy training resources, and allows for pre-, post- and multi-assessments. It provides step by step instructions to ensure instructors understand the need for conducting evaluations and how to create a valid assessment.
Because it’s web-based, instructors can use the content as is or remix and modify it. Results are automatically compiled and graded under the instructor’s account. This feature allows the instructor to analyze individual learner results to ensure they’re understanding the concepts being presented.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
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Abstract:
This report explores the potential for technology to enhance the teaching and learning of advanced math skills for adults.
In the second of three reports, Power in Numbers examines opportunity areas for technology to drive impact for adult learners. We propose that edtech investors and developers focus on five key opportunity areas, and invest in technology solutions to improve adult education outcomes. Each opportunity area represents a framework for analyzing technologies to achieve maximum impact.
They are:
Benefits and Uses
This document is the second in a series of three reports on the state of the technology market for adult learners.
The first report highlighted many problems that technology solutions face in serving the unique needs of adult learners. This report focuses on solutions and makes the case for further investment in technologies that can be transformative for adult education.
Through the lens of five opportunity areas, the report highlights technology solutions and applications that have the potential to greatly impact adult learning outcomes, if given the required attention and funding.
We aim to draw attention to adult education as a field ripe for investment and innovation to would-be funders. For those already invested in the field, we hope to provide a framework for analyzing the impact opportunity of future investments.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
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Abstract:
Online lessons and practices designed to help instructors teach and foster adaptive beliefs about learning.
Learning mindsets are a set of beliefs that can support increased academic performance in students. There are three main learning mindsets commonly referenced: growth mindset, belonging, and purpose & relevance. Individuals who believe intelligence is set at birth have a "fixed mindset". They tend to perform worse academically and may give up when challenged or think that having to work hard means you don’t ‘have what it takes’.
In contrast, students who believe their intelligence can grow with effort and practice perform better in school and in life. This belief is called a "growth mindset". Students with a growth mindset understand that they have control over their own success. They are more motivated to work hard; they put more effort into their schoolwork; they are more resilient in the face of obstacles; and they ultimately perform better in school.
The Mindset Kit is a collection of resources that help adult educators and parents learn about the most effective learning mindset materials available. All of the resources are based on research that has been carefully translated into lessons and practices intended to improve students’ mindsets and make them better learners. There are several videos to help users learn more about these mindsets and example practices that can help them get started.
What the experts say
The Mindset Kit is organized into materials for teachers, parents, mentors, and professional development. Lessons are short and easy to understand and most include a short video. Along with the lessons on growth mindset teachers will find lesson plans to try in their classrooms to help their students develop a growth mindset. Although the lessons are developed for K-12 classrooms, they are easily used or adapted for adult education classrooms. Lessons on developing learning tasks and assessments are illustrated in a math classroom that will resonate with adult education teachers.
The research on growth mindset is presented in a way that is easy to understand. Lessons for teachers emphasize the importance of helping students understanding the research and lesson plans are provided that make the research easily accessible for students. The kit also contains a set of five one-hour professional development courses and a list of downloadable professional development activities and resources.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
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Publication Year
2018
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Abstract:
This flyer highlights LINCS resources of interest to adult educators working in career pathways or workforce development.
This flyer may be of interest to adult educators working in career pathways or workforce development who are looking for recommended LINCS resources. State staff and program administrators should feel free to download, print, and distribute these flyers.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2018
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Abstract:
This flyer highlights LINCS resources of interest to adult educators.
This flyer is intended to highlight selected resources from the LINCS Community, Learning Portal, and Resource Collection that would be of interest to most adult educators.
Benefits and Uses
This flyer may be of interest to adult educators looking for recommended LINCS resources. State staff and program administrators should feel free to download, print, and distribute these flyers.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2018
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Abstract:
The Kentucky Skills U Instructional Technology Framework provides a common instructional technology foundation for comprehensive, assessment-aligned instructional support for adult educators.
The Kentucky Skills U Instructional Framework Series was designed to provide a common instructional foundation for all of Kentucky’s adult education providers. This resource was developed by a state-level team and was informed by local providers and is intended to align with the LINCS Professional Development Center State Leadership Self-Assessment Tool, the LINCS Adult Education Teacher Competencies, the Data Recognition Corporation TABE 11/12 Blueprints, and the GED® Testing Service High Impact Indicators (HIIs). The framework has four components: The Student Framework; The Mathematics Instructional Framework; The Reasoning Through Language Arts Instructional Framework; The Instructional Technology Framework.
This resource focuses on The Instructional Technology Framework and provides instructional resources that are accompanied by links, descriptions, screenshots and video tutorials. The resources are aligned with LINCS AE Teacher Competencies for Domains 2 and 3, specifically competencies 2.1 through 2.5 and 3.2. While the resources are designed for the K-12 setting, they can be used as is or revised to meet the needs of adult learners.
To note, the examples of Instructional Technology described in the framework are meant to supplement instruction, not to replace it. Sound instruction is designed around learning objectives, and integration of the technology tools highlighted below contextualizes instruction to increase the digital literacy needed for both college and career success.
What the experts say
The Kentucky U Skills Instructional Technology Framework provides a helpful list of online technology tools (websites, platforms, and apps) that are intended for use in educational contexts. The list is aligned with the LINCS Adult Ed Teacher Competencies for Domains 2 and 3, specifically competencies 2.1 through 2.5 and 3.2. The resource provides a brief description of each tool and links (where available) to tutorials on its use, so that teachers can explore the potential of each for providing instruction to their learners. Many of the listed tools are designed for K-12 learners. The resource can be quite helpful for adult educators who understand how to evaluate K-12 materials for use with adult learners and how to incorporate technology tools as supports to the achievement of learning objectives.
Like most compilations of websites, this resource has both benefits and flaws. There are many excellent websites, apps, and products here that would be very helpful to teachers in their classrooms. However, unless the teacher has prior knowledge about each one, the information given in the resource is not sufficient. As with any collection of websites, there are some that have changed and some that seem to have disappeared. There is no organization according to class (Literacy, GED, ESL) or level of English or basic skills, and some of the sites are free only for schools in Kentucky. The wonderful videos in some of HippoCampus, the great curriculum in USALearns, the innovative approach of live tutors in Ask Rose are there to be found, but the finding isn't easy.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2018
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Abstract:
This mathematics content framework provides comprehensive, assessment-aligned support to adult educators and identifies instructional materials that have been aligned with the Data Recognition Corporation TABE 11/12 Blueprints and the GED Testing Service GED High Impact Indicators.
The Kentucky Skills U Instructional Framework Series was designed to provide a common instructional foundation for all of Kentucky’s adult education providers. This resource was developed by a state-level team and was informed by local providers and is intended to align with the LINCS Professional Development Center State Leadership Self-Assessment Tool, the LINCS Adult Education Teacher Competencies, the Data Recognition Corporation TABE 11/12 Blueprints, the GED® Testing Service High Impact Indicators (HIIs), and the College and Career Readiness Standards. The framework has four components: The Student Framework; The Mathematics Instructional Framework; The Reasoning Through Language Arts Instructional Framework; The Instructional Technology Framework.
This resource focuses on The Mathematics Instructional Framework and provides instructional resources that are accompanied by links, descriptions, screenshots and video tutorials. The resources are aligned with the Data Recognition Corporation TABE 11/12 Blueprints, the GED® Testing Service High Impact Indicators (HIIs), and the College and Career Readiness Standards domains. While the resources are designed for the K-12 setting, they can be used as is or revised to meet the needs of adult learners.
What the experts say
This resource contains an enormous amount of material in the lesson plans and the links for instructional video clips. To Kentucky’s credit, the Kentucky Skills U Instructional Framework series is relevant for all adult educators. They have designed a useful tool that provides a common instructional foundation. In developing this resource, they aligned instruction with college and career readiness standards, student assessment criteria, and program performance metrics. It also utilized the LINCS Professional Development Center State Leadership Self-Assessment Tool, the LINCS Adult Education Teacher Competencies, the Data Recognition Corporation TABE 11/12 Blueprints, and the GED® Testing Service High Impact Indicators (HIIs). That makes it significant and pertinent to teachers in other states.
One concern is the overemphasis on procedural mathematics in both the lesson plans and the video resources. Many lessons have an "I do--you do--we do" structure, representing a transmission model of instruction. The resource is limited in its usefulness for developing conceptual understanding, problem solving skills and real-world applications, which are also promoted by the CCRS. These important goals are less amenable to short, single day, self-contained, teacher-focused lessons.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2018