The Teaching the Skills That Matter in Adult Education project (TSTM) trains teachers to integrate the skills that matter to adult students using approaches that work across engaging topics. Using the project's tools and training, adult education teachers can teach these transferable workforce skills students need across multiple contexts.
The 9 skills that matter are:
- Adaptability & willingness to learn
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Interpersonal skills
- Navigating systems
- Problem solving
- Processing & analyzing information
- Respecting differences
- Self-awareness
The 5 topic areas are:
- Civics education
- Digital literacy
- Financial literacy
- Health literacy
- Workforce preparation
The 3 approaches that work are:
- Integrated & contextualized learning
- Problem-based learning
- Project-based learning
The Teaching the Skills That Matter Toolkit
The TSTM Toolkit was developed by adult education experts to support teachers in using approaches that work to help students apply the skills that matter. The toolkit has several sections:
- The Overview section introduces the key toolkit components;
- The topic-based sections each include an issue brief, a case study, lesson plans, an annotated bibliography, and a video featuring one of the topic lesson plans being taught; and
- The Other Tools and Resources section, which has additional tools and resources to support the integration of the skills into your instruction.
What Past Participants Have Said
"Our learners now have the skills and knowledge to be successful in gaining employment."
"TSTM has encompassed the skills that adults need to not only survive, but thrive in our world."
"We have implemented rigorous life-skills focused curricula that addresses needs of learners and is adaptable to changing needs over time."
"TSTM allows participants to identify what they know and use and to develop the knowledge and skills that will make their dreams come true."
TSTM Benefits
- Implement research and evidence-based units/lessons that support standards-based instruction and the transferable workforce skills that matter for learners
- Collaborate and become part of a professional learning community with adult educators from other states and project experts focused on improving instruction with approaches that work
- Developed units and lesson plans based on effective elements of instruction
- Receive individualized coaching from national content experts
TSTM States Map
Over 35 states have completed TSTM training. To find out what is happening in your state with TSTM implementation, please contact your state PD leader.
Background and Contact Information
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA, Pub. L. 113-128, July 2014), increases access to employment, education, training, and support services for individuals, particularly those with barriers to employment. Title II of WIOA, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), presents an extraordinary opportunity to improve the quality of life for individuals with low skills. WIOA Section 203 encourages programs to provide instruction tied to "activities, programs or services designed to help an individual acquire a combination of basic academic skills, critical thinking skills, digital literacy skills and self-management skills, including competencies in utilizing resources, using information, working with others, understanding systems and obtaining skills necessary for successful transition into and completion of postsecondary education or training, or employment." (WIOA, Pub. L. 113-128, Section 203, July 2014).
Teaching Skills That Matter in Adult Education is built upon this legislative authority. It strives to provide adult education teachers with an opportunity to meaningfully integrate these skills into regular adult education classroom instruction leveraging the required national leadership activities under WIOA. Teaching Skills That Matter in Adult Education is being conducted by the American Institutes for Research, under contract to the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, please email tstm@air.org.