Personalizing Digital Learning: Diverse Learner Profiles for Adult Education

In adult education, meeting learners where they are is essential. With digital skills becoming a critical part of everyday life, educators need tools to support each adult learner’s goals, abilities, and context. That’s where the BRIDGES Skills Checklist for Different Learner Types comes in.

📌 What Are Digital Learner Profiles?

Digital learner profiles are individualized portraits that capture a learner’s current digital skills, goals, and preferred learning strategies. The profiles were created to help educators understand where each learner is in their digital literacy journey and where they want to go.

These profiles include:

• A snapshot of current digital skills, like using a mouse or navigating the internet

• A clear set of learning goals based on real-world needs

• Information about how the learner best absorbs information, whether through hands-on practice, visuals, or guided instruction

Profiles can be created using self-assessment checklists, surveys, or simple intake conversations. They allow educators to customize instruction, make learning more relevant, and build trust with learners by focusing on what matters most to them.

🔑 Why Are These Profiles Important?

Many adult learners manage responsibilities at home, at work, and in their communities. Digital learner profiles help educators prioritize instruction that supports real goals, not just generic skills. Whether a learner needs digital tools to manage their health, apply for a job, or help a child with homework, profiles make it easier to identify and teach what’s most useful.

These profiles also promote persistence. When learners feel seen and supported, they are more likely to engage, practice new skills, and continue learning over time. Instructors can use profiles to guide learners through growth, starting with foundational skills and moving toward more advanced goals as their confidence builds.

🎯 Seven Learner Profiles Based on the BRIDGES Skills Checklist

Click to access the full list of Digital Literacy Standards and Skills for each Learner Type

There are seven BRIDGES-aligned skill areas that reflect the needs of common learner profiles you might encounter in your agency: Skills for Employment, Skills for a Senior Citizen, Skills for a Parent, Skills for Education, Skills for a Beginning User, Skills for Life, and Skills for a Mobile User. Each area is designed around a specific type of learner and shows how their goals and context shape the way they apply digital skills. These profiles offer real-world relevance and highlight how digital skills can transfer across different aspects of life.

For a full list of digital literacy standards connected to each learner type, explore the new resource: Digital Literacy Standards and Skills by Learner Type - BRIDGES Framework. This document organizes BRIDGES skills by learner goals to help you plan instruction that supports meaningful, learner-centered progress.

🎒 Using Learner Profiles in the Adult Ed Classroom

Educators can use these profiles to build learner-centered lesson plans. Instead of starting with a curriculum and fitting learners into it, start with the learner and fit the instruction around their goals. For example, if a learner wants to support their child’s education, the lesson might include navigating a school website and using email to contact a teacher. If a learner is focused on employment, activities might include filling out a sample job application or practicing typing a resume. Profiles also support goal setting. They help learners see their progress and take ownership of their digital growth. Over time, a beginning user can become a confident mobile user or even pursue formal education online.

🌐 Looking for Additional Tools to Support Your Digital Literacy Work?

 If you’re building learner profiles or offering digital skills instruction, you may also find these tools helpful:

• DART Curriculum for foundational digital lessons, especially helpful for English learners and those with limited prior tech experience

• Northstar Digital Literacy for assessments, instructor-led lessons, and self-paced learning

• Google Applied Digital Skills for career, life, and workplace-focused digital learning activities

To explore how these tools connect with the learner profiles or additional information about each curriculum, please visit the Digital Literacy Curricula and/or the Digital Literacy page on Digital ATDN website. Based on the profiles you select, you can navigate and choose the curricula, lessons, and resources available to support the specific goals of your learners. 

By using diverse learner profiles, educators can build a more personalized, practical, and empowering digital learning experience that supports each learner’s next step, wherever they may be starting.