My previous two pieces in this “inspiring tech” series have been about the need to inspire tech dreams and discipline in students for them to be able to qualify themselves for roles in the emerging tech sector. There is also a need to inspire tech bridges to be constructed or reinforced for adult learners to have pathways to cross over into positions in tech fields that can improve their quality of life and deploy their talents in different ways. I have listed three strategies that tech bridge builders can use in their quest to find ways to connect adult learners to programs at higher education institutions that can equip them for accelerating opportunities in the tech sector.
1. Adapt to the needs of adult learners and go where they are.
It is obvious that working adults typically have a different set of perspectives and responsibilities than their counterparts who may be coming directly from high school. Adapting course scheduling and delivery to fit their needs will be a critical component of building the bridges that are needed for people to cross from one career path to another.
There is also a need to identify where potential adult students congregate in order to get information to them about opportunities in the tech sector. This allows for the broad dissemination of information and gives room for additional relationship building that comes with the follow up questions and answer sessions where interested potential students can garner further insights into how they can make the transition into a tech career. 
Dr. Marcus Bright
Trade organizations and unions can also be great partners in upskilling their members with additional technology-related tools that they can apply to their current career paths. Parents of existing students who recently matriculated from high school are also a group that can be engaged through orientations and other communication forums where they can receive knowledge that can lead to the upliftment of their circumstances. If they can be shown a path for how they can get it done, then all that is needed is the belief that they have the ability to do it and the inspiration to take the necessary steps to complete it.
