Building Blocks for Building Skills
An Inventory of Adult Learning Models and Innovations
This website is the product of research conducted for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative on the key components – or building blocks – of effective adult learning and skill development programs.
The full report is available at: http://www.cael.org/pdf/publication_pdf/BuildingBlocksforBuildingSkills.pdf
Below is an overview of the building blocks for adult learning and skill development programs. Please click on each main component and innovation to learn more. Tools, resources, and organizational examples are provided for many of the components and innovations.
Overview of the Components and Innovations
Need-focused Planning and Analysis
- Define the problem
- Consult labor market information
- Determine local employer needs
- Assess current offerings/ conduct gap analysis
- Identify the target population
- Resources and Tools for Need-focused Planning and Analysis
Progress- and Success-focused Program Design
- Use delivery systems and formats that make the learning accessible to the target population
- Innovation: Accelerated learning programs
- Innovation: Online programs
- Make the learning sequential, progressive, and competency-based
- Innovation: Bridge programs
- Innovation: Progressive career ladder programs
- Innovation: Apprenticeship programs
- Broaden the experience base
- Innovation: Provide internships
- Innovation: Provide transitional jobs
- Tools and Resources For Program Design
Adult-Centered Implementation
- Assessment
- Provide individual assessment of skills, interests, and learning outcomes
- Innovation: Prior Learning Assessment
- Innovation: Work readiness credential
- Resources for assessment
- Student Support
- Conduct outreach
- Provide advising and other academic support
- Innovation: The use of peers for support and learning
- Innovation: The use of mentors in learning and at work
- Provide social support services
- Check in and follow up with the student
- Innovation: Retention/Post-placement support
- Find ways to ease the financial burden of training and learning
- Resources for Student Support
- Adult-Centered Teaching-Learning Process
- Make it relevant
- Integrate content
- Engage the learner as an adult
- Draw on the learner's experience
- Vary training techniques to appeal to different learning styles
- Innovation: Use of "Blended Learning"
- Create a positive learning environment
- Be sensitive to cultural differences
- Give frequent and immediate feedback
- Resources for Adult-Centered Teaching-Learning Process