09/16/2026
IDEAL Consortium Wraps Up Its 2026 Summer Institute
Every August, adult education leaders from IDEAL member states, which together serve nearly half of the country’s distance education learners, come together for three days of hands-on learning, collaboration, and exchange.
This year, the Institute surfaced several priorities shaping the field:
- AI is moving from experimentation to application. Connecticut demonstrated an AI-assisted digital literacy checklist that can automatically generate standards-alignment tables, one example of how states are beginning to put AI to practical use.
- Digital literacy is becoming part of everyday instruction. Rather than treating digital skills as a standalone subject, states are increasingly embedding them across instruction. In Illinois, for example, World Relief has integrated digital skills directly into IET and ESL curricula at every level.
- Professional development is shifting from participation to demonstrated practice. Arizona’s Credly-issued Digital Literacy Leader badge reflects that shift, requiring evidence of classroom practice rather than simply course completion.
The Institute also marked the launch of IDEAL Commons, a new shared resource library where members can access professional development developed across IDEAL states, along with state digital education policies and guidance, standards, prioritized technologies, and other resources.
We were also delighted to welcome special guests David Rosen, Jane Eguez of CASAS, and Aubrey Huff of the American Library Association.
And congratulations to Ashly Winkle of TCALL, Texas, recipient of the IDEAL Impact Award, and Gwenn Weaver of Digital Durham, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A strong three days of learning, sharing, and building together across the IDEAL community.
Thank you to our sponsors — Aztec, Burlington English, Ellii, EnGen, and Essential Education (GED Academy) — and to Literacy Minnesota for hosting.
Learn more: ideal.worlded.org
