Digital Resilience in the American Workforce

The report, Digital Resilience in the American Workforce: Findings from a National Landscape Scan on Adult Digital Literacy Instruction is the result of a comprehensive mixed-methods investigation. This involved a literature review, stakeholder interviews, practitioner and learner questionnaires, market surveys, and learner focus groups. These diverse methods converged to unveil a nuanced understanding of adult digital literacy education.

The DRAW project delved into adult digital literacy instruction, exploring various dimensions like instructional strategies, content resources, assessment needs, access disparities, equity models, and professional development approaches. This scan illuminated both the current landscape and the challenges therein. A significant finding highlighted the need for educators to possess resources and support for fostering learners' digital resilience. This was reinforced by identifying gaps, particularly in resources for diverse learner profiles. The study also revealed a disconnect among educators, employers, and policymakers regarding defining crucial digital skills and measuring them.

The DRAW landscape scan serves two primary goals. It acts as a foundation for developing resources and professional development within the DRAW framework. Additionally, it compiles vital insights, tools, and models for adult education professionals and stakeholders engaged in digital literacy, equity initiatives, research, and policymaking. The report's findings underline the dynamic nature of digital skills and resilience definitions, emphasize the urgency of bridging access and equity gaps, spotlight effective instructional strategies across diverse contexts, advocate for improved content curation, highlight the significance of assessing and validating digital skills, and stress the importance of empowering educators through professional development.

The report presents significant findings and actionable insights across six key areas:

1. Dynamic Digital Skills and Resilience Definitions: The necessity of establishing flexible definitions and frameworks for digital skills and resilience is underscored. As technology evolves rapidly, it's imperative to accommodate the diverse needs of adult learners and employers. Ensuring alignment with changing technological landscapes is crucial for fostering relevant digital competence.
2. Access and Equity: The report identifies the pressing issue of unequal access to devices, connectivity, and opportunities for digital skill development. Such disparities exacerbate educational and income gaps. Strategies for bridging these disparities are pivotal to fostering equal educational attainment and socioeconomic progress.
3. Effective Instructional Strategies: The research reveals promising instructional methods that prove effective across various contexts, including English Language Learning (ELL) and High School Equivalency (HSE) classrooms, reentry services, and integrated education and training programs. These strategies accommodate diverse learner groups, such as older adults, neurodiverse individuals, and those with emerging literacy needs.
4. Enhanced Digital Skill Content: The report advocates for improved curation of digital skill content and curriculum. Noteworthy is the Digital Skills Library, which offers resources in multiple languages, materials focusing on digital resilience, and adaptable content for English language learners, older adults, and neurodiverse individuals.
5. Assessment and Validation: The study highlights the importance of tools and practices for assessing and validating digital skills. It explores the potential of certifications and badges to effectively communicate learners' digital competencies to instructors, employers, and educational institutions, fostering a clearer understanding of learners' capabilities.
6. Practitioners’ Professional Development: The report emphasizes the need for professional development to empower educators. Strategies to boost instructors' confidence with using technology and their ability to model digital resilience within the classroom environment are crucial. Equipping educators with the necessary skills enhances their effectiveness in guiding learners toward digital proficiency.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2022
• Author(s): McDonnell, R.P.; Fraser, S.
• Funding Source: U.S. Department of Education
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: India Johnson
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies