Portland State University (Department of Applied Linguistics)

Portland State University, in collaboration with its partners, will conduct extensive mining and analysis of data for more than 23,000 adult users of the IMLS-funded Learner Web, a learning support system for adults. Learner Web helps adults accomplish specific personal goals such as earning a General Equivalency Diploma, improving English language abilities, or increasing digital literacy skills. This research will provide unique and important information about the learning processes of various hard-to-serve populations and how libraries can better tailor tutoring opportunities to meet diverse needs. Project partners include the state libraries of California, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, and Texas; the City of Richmond Public Library, Lindy Boggs National Center for Community Literacy at Loyola University New Orleans, Minnesota Literacy Council, Regional Adult Education Network at Cayuga Community College, Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, and South Texas College. This research seeks to produce information that will help libraries tailor learning and literary services more effectively to prepare more individuals to cross the digital divide, use broadband services, and participate in an increasingly digital world.