Team WorldEd Named an Achievement Winner in the Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition

Team WorldEd, a diverse, virtual community of adult education providers, today announced that it has been named the Tier 1 Achievement Winner in the Barbara Bush Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition presented by Dollar General Literacy Foundation. This national competition challenged communities and organizations across the country to empower adults with low literacy skills to use free mobile learning tools. Team WorldEd has been awarded $150,000 for enabling the highest number of adults to use field-tested mobile learning apps among the 24 teams competing nationally.

Team WorldEd is powered by the EdTech Center @ World Education that leverages technology to increase the reach and impact of education and workforce initiatives. The team comprises adult education programs and funders in six states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Texas. Members include adult education programs, libraries, school districts, tutoring programs, professional development organizations, career centers, workplace education programs, professional associations, and government and other public agencies. With a breadth of expertise across disciplines and states, the EdTech Center is uniquely poised to accelerate learning, digital literacy, and economic mobility for adult learners across the country. The prize funds enable the EdTech Center to continue to advance adult literacy through strategic partnerships and a human-centered approach to harnessing innovative technologies to improve learning and life outcomes.

“Our team is thrilled to be selected as the Tier 1 Achievement Winner in this unprecedented and impactful competition. Team WorldEd came together to advance mobile learning to help adults with low literacy access and extend learning,” said Silja Kallenbach, World Education Vice President. “We are grateful for our community of educators, adult learners, professional development providers, and adult education policy-makers who joined our team.”For the competition, Team WorldEd promoted all four finalist Adult Literacy XPRIZE apps designed for low-literacy adults and English language learners: Amrita Learning, Cell-Ed, Codex: Lost Words of Atlantis, and Learning Upgrade. All four apps have been field-tested with thousands of adult learners and have resulted in considerable learning gains as measured by pre- and post-tests. They employ varied strategies in how they engage, teach, and support learners.

The EdTech Center will be leveraging the momentum of the competition in support of a broader Mobile Learning initiative; one that will provide open education resources and professional development to educators, practitioners and others in the field through an inclusive community of practice. Team WorldEd has invited the winners of the other tiers in the competition to join forces in advancing mobile learning for adults. Both ProLiteracy and Adult Literacy Partners of Houston have welcomed the invitation.