Workforce Edtech Tools

The WorkforceEdTech.org Tools repository is a growing collection of impactful technology tools for use in adult learning and workforce development settings.

The repository is designed to help adult learning and workforce development organizations, as well as employers, better leverage the most impactful technologies to increase outcomes related to: Learning & Training; Mentorship & Support; Assessment & Matching; Job Search & Placement; and Organizational Management.

It was built by World Education with the support of a group of non-profit organizations including the Employment Technology Fund, SkillRise – an initiative of International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE), Jobs for the Future (JFF), Digital Promise, Code for America, the Literacy, Language and Technology Research center at Portland State University, New America ShiftLabs, and the EdTech Center @ World Education.

“By harnessing digital technologies that are mobile, accessible and personal, we can help all adults, including entry level workers, grow their talent and increase economic opportunity,” said Alison Ascher Webber, Director of Strategic Initiatives, the EdTech Center @ World Education. “Through both our field testing and the Workforce EdTech tools repository, we will increase the effective use of technology and break down barriers to education and employment on a far-reaching scale.”

In the United States, an estimated 40 percent of adults lack in-demand skills and connections to advance in their careers or earn higher wages. While there are many edtech resources for K-12 or higher education, there are few that focus on adult learners and job seekers.

“We’ve heard over and over again that while providers of learning and skill development want to leverage technology to improve access and impact, they just don’t know where to begin,” said Danielle Goonan, Senior Manager II with Walmart Giving. “While there are many edtech products, it can be challenging to determine which ones work best with each worker. The Workforce EdTech Tools repository and the new learnings from World Education’s year-long technology testing will help the field, including employers, better leverage the most impactful technologies to increase outcomes.”

These technologies will increase opportunities for adult learners. For example, students can use their cell phones to learn English during work breaks, use a computer to find how their skills match up to new jobs or career paths, or participate in a virtual chat with a professional in an industry that is hiring. Other tools help improve communication, project workflow and documentation, and financial management and fundraising of organizations supporting adult learners.

“These technologies are poised to change the future of work—especially for the millions of adults living in the United States most in need of increased access to learning and opportunity,” said Yigal Kerszenbaum, managing director, Employment Technology Fund. “We are grateful to World Education and the Walmart Foundation for partnering with us to both test and share impactful uses of employment education technology.”