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By Shirley Doan
This blog post is the fourth in the Digital Equity at World Education series, which recaps our recent and ongoing digital inclusion work at multiple levels. Read the preceding post, The Boston Digital Literacy Initiative: Integrating Digital Literacy at Adult Education Programs, and check out our Digital Equity page to view all of our resources on digital equity and inclusion.
The Innovating Digital Education in Adult Learning (IDEAL) Consortium is an initiative of the EdTech Center at World Education that convenes state-level adult education leaders to learn from one another, gain new insights into what works in digital and distance education, and access technical assistance and professional development opportunities. In August, IDEAL will be hosting its annual multi-day institute for member states. Every year, the Summer Institute supports IDEAL Consortium members in planning for upcoming technology-enriched education for adult learners. State leaders engage in peer learning, attend presentations led by nationally known experts, and discuss innovative instructional strategies, important policy considerations, and administrative practices. The Summer Institute is a hybrid event, bringing together people both in person and online.
In response to the demand for more support for adult education teachers, this year, the Summer Institute will expand to offer the IDEAL EdTech Innovations Conference on August 22, 2024, which will be free and open to the public. IDEAL Consortium leaders attending the Summer Institute in person will join others participating online in the half-day event, choosing to attend lightning talks or participate in an EdTech Maker Space focused on GenAI.
The free and online IDEAL EdTech Innovations Conference is a testament to the need for continued technical assistance and professional development on quality digital education for adult learners nationwide—and to how World Education continues to adapt to address these challenges. For over 15 years, the IDEAL Consortium has been a trusted leader and partner in helping state and regional leadership train their staff, delivering proactive and just-in-time technical support, and assessing the progress of their efforts to jumpstart, improve, and scale quality digital and distance education.
The Summer Institute is just one component of the IDEAL Consortium’s work, which includes providing technical assistance, professional development, web-based tools, and publications on designing digital education options to member states throughout the year. And as members’ needs have evolved over the years, so have the technical assistance, professional development, and ongoing discussion opportunities: for example, IDEAL has provided technical assistance on data collection and analysis, reporting, educational program design, instructional strategies, and the selection and use of online curricula.
Of course, the longstanding strength and impact of the IDEAL Consortium also comes from the experience and expertise of its members. With 21 current member states, state and regional leaders have rich opportunities to learn from the experiences, triumphs, and challenges of others in the field through a Community of Practice, networking, and mentoring. Their achievements, contributions, and leadership are celebrated at the Summer Institute every year, and World Education is honored to be a trusted convener and supporter of their vision and work. Through quality digital education for adult learners, together, we can advance digital equity for all.