Navigating IET through the ADVANCE IET Fundamentals Course

Integrated Education and Training (IET) is at the heart of preparing adult learners for both academic growth and career success. Exploring IET through an online course in IET fundamentals gives educators the tools to design programs that blend basic skills, workforce training, and employability skills—all while meeting federal requirements.

Last March, I completed the ADVANCE IET Fundamentals course on the US  Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS) site. The course provides an introduction to IET fundamentals, program design elements, and resources for IET planning and implementation. Designed for adult educators, navigators, Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors, and workforce development professionals, it aims to highlight the role of IET in advancing adult learners from low-paying jobs to skilled employment. In this review, I’ll focus on the course content, effectiveness, and usability.

LINCS offers a variety of self-paced professional development (PD) courses that include Career Pathways & Postsecondary Transitions, English Language Acquisition, Teaching and Learning, Differentiated Instruction, Teacher Effectiveness, Teaching Adults to Read, Integrating Technology, Learners with Disabilities, and Science. To access any of these courses, users must create an account, which includes multi-factor authentication.

The IET Fundamentals course was created by ABE professionals who have decades of experience with course design, classroom instruction, and IET experience.  The course spans approximately two hours and consists of three units. Below is a breakdown of each unit’s content.

Unit 1: Introduction to IET Fundamentals

Unit 1 introduces the core components of IET through short videos featuring perspectives from an adult learner, adult educator, navigator, CTE instructor, and employer. These perspectives illustrate the real-world impact of IET and the importance of a well-structured program in supporting career advancement.

A key highlight of this unit is the focus on the role of navigators, emphasizing their importance in guiding learners through education and workforce transitions. The unit also covers the three Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) components for IET, presented through interactive, clickable elements that enhance engagement. A short quiz follows to help you identify these core components.

The course introduces the concept of a Single Set of (Integrated) Learning Objectives (SSLO), with examples primarily drawn from the manufacturing sector. These SSLOs align well with materials in the 2022 IET Design Toolkit. A notable feature of this course is that it updates some SSLO language from the toolkit to better reflect workforce preparation skills—such as adding “work in teams” as an objective. Additionally, the terminology has shifted slightly: each unit’s objective is now referred to as an “integrated objective,” and when combined, these objectives form the SSLO. The subtle changes may support those tasked with creating SSLO as part of an IET.

Unit 2: Digging Deeper into IET Program Design Elements

Unit 2 explores key design elements of an effective IET program, emphasizing the importance of Quality Indicators (QI) and the need for strong connections to workforce development (CareerForce) and CTE training programs. A central theme is the significance and importance of collaboration, both within an organization and with external workforce partners. The IET Quality Indicators were developed to support ongoing IET improvement and may serve as guideposts for local programs to strengthen their IET delivery.

One of the strengths of this unit is its focus on using data for continuous improvement. Examples demonstrate how data can be leveraged to refine program design and enhance learner outcomes. Additionally, the unit provides, again, a concise yet informative discussion on the role of navigators, which could be particularly beneficial for organizations without dedicated navigators, as it offers insights into alternative student support mechanisms.

Most examples of IET training in this unit are tied to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs found on many community college campuses. While this is valuable, it may not fully reflect the diverse training pathways available for IET, particularly those delivered by Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs. Expanding these examples could make the content more applicable to a wider range of IET providers.

Unit 3: Getting Started: Resources for IET Planning and Design

The final unit provides practical resources for developing an IET program, with a strong focus on the IET Design Toolkit. The unit begins with quizzes assessing knowledge of Phase 1 of the toolkit and SSLOs. The assessments serve as knowledge checkpoints.  The unit offers valuable guidance on structuring an IET program, providing tools that practitioners can apply directly to their planning and implementation efforts.

Overall Impressions & Recommendations

Overall, the LINCS IET Fundamentals professional development course provides a solid foundation in IET fundamentals and program design. The inclusion of multiple perspectives, interactive elements, and a strong focus on navigators and workforce development connections makes this a valuable resource for adult education and workforce professionals.

This course is especially recommended for those with limited or no prior experience in IET, as it serves as an informative introduction to IET concepts. All participants should gain foundational knowledge and practical resources to help implement high-quality IET programs. By exploring the IET fundamentals course, participants gain tools to make IET more relevant, impactful, and  help students take confident steps toward their education and career goals.