We’re designing education toward the future of work
Work with UsThe Lab works on the ground with 135 colleges, 60+ employers, 10 regions, and thousands of learners, who need education programs and pathways that better serve their futures.
It's a time of transformation
Education outcomes are being measured by competencies, not degrees.
The lines between school and work are blurring.
Colleges, and even high schools, are starting to unlock skills from degrees, making them more explicit to learners and employers.
Learners are in the driver’s seat, getting credit and skills from many different providers, and credit for learning wherever it happens.
We call this the Learner Revolution.
Our Areas of Work
Design Shorter and Stackable Pathways
- Lower-cost degrees
- “Earn and learn” programs
- Micro-credentials and pathways
Catalyze the Transition to Skills-based Hiring
- Translate degrees to employer competencies
- Assessments to test and build skills
- Validate micro-credentials with employers
Train for Human-centered Design + Change Management
- Immersive workshops for learning institutions
- User-centered research
- Rapid prototyping tools + training
- Innovation capacity diagnostic + training
Scale Solutions with Equity at the Center
- Communities of practice
- Product laboratory
- Innovator Network
Featured Clients + Partners
Sample Funders
Latest News from Our Innovator Network
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Designing Micro-pathways with and for Learners
Q&A with Dr. Tara Zirkel, Senior Education Designer with the Community College Growth Engine Fund The Community College Growth Engine Fund is a design accelerator led by the Education Design Lab working with community colleges…View Story -
Employer Insights about Micro-Pathways
In April 2021, the Community College Growth Engine Fund (CCGEF), a national initiative to build 18+ employer-validated micro-pathways, hosted learner feedback sessions. Micro-pathways are defined as two or more stackable credentials that include a 21st…View Story
We are in the field bringing models to life that are more affordable, portable, relevant, and visible for learners.