Adult education practitioners play a vital role in encouraging learners to explore, and to identify career interests, skills, and work values. Inspiring Career Development and Action (ICA): A Curriculum Guide for Adult Educators provides tools for educators to guide learners through a realistic career awareness, and a supportive exploration and planning process. This process is relevant for all adult learners, including those beginning their professional journey and those looking to upgrade their skills and move out of entry-level, low-wage jobs.

The ICA includes lesson plans and materials for each step of the career awareness, exploration, and planning process. The lessons model career-contextualized teaching and advising by integrating the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCRSAE), English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), and transferable workplace success skills alongside career content. The ICA also includes guidance and tips for adapting the lessons and for integrating writing activities, teaching online, and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

The curriculum is designed to be used by instructors and career coaches, career navigators, and advisors in a variety of settings and formats, including classroom-based instruction, workforce training programs, career readiness workshops, and in one-on-one career coaching sessions. We encourage instructors to adapt the ICA curriculum guide lessons and handouts to make them accessible to all learners.