Adult learning program uses a unique hybrid learning model that provides free access to online courses, facilitated in-person instruction to teach in-demand professional skills

Sean Corp, Communications Lead 

The cream, sugar, and fresh coffee were in place. The programs listing everyone receiving course certificates were neatly placed on tables. There was even a bag of tomatoes fresh from the garden free to anyone who wanted one. It was graduation day for 49 people who earned a course certificate as part of the Saturdays in the D adult learning program. 

Lauren Atkins Budde, director of academic content strategy for the University of Michigan Center for Innovation, wanted everyone who spent the previous seven Saturdays in a classroom at U-M’s Detroit Center on Woodward Avenue, to have the time in the spotlight they had earned. She even brought the tomatoes. 

“There are so many competing requirements on people’s time and energy with work, with kids, and other obligations. We work to create an environment where they are the focus. We want them to feel special here because they are special. That kind of support is not something adults often get.”

Adding Adult Learners to the Mix

Saturdays in the D is a long-running summer enrichment program for residents of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. Traditionally full of camps and experiences for middle- and high-school students, this is the second year of the adult learning program. 

Participants attended workshops and info sessions on project management, generative AI tools, and financial literacy. Many also enrolled in an online course created by the University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation and offered free to adult learners participating in Saturdays in the D. The courses offered at Saturdays in the D were chosen because they teach skills that allow people to advance in their current careers or pivot to new ones, said Nola Czarnik, director of content and platform strategy at the center. 

“We selected courses that we felt would resonate most with what we are hearing Detroiters are looking for and represent viable workforce development skills,” Czarnik said.   

It also allowed the center to continue exploring new ways of engaging with lifelong learners, she said. 

“Partnering with the City of Detroit and the U-M Center for Innovation allowed us to continue exploring a new hybrid model of education delivery and gave Detroit residents access to some of our most popular and powerful courses. We believe in the power of education to empower people and give them the ability to proactively change their lives,” Czarnik said. 

The learners met once a week for a co-learning session in the online course, guided by a course facilitator. The facilitators answered questions and helped them progress through the available courses in entrepreneurship, negotiation, Python programming, and leadership. Between each Saturday session, the learners advanced through online courses taught by current and former Michigan faculty. They made progress on their own time and then used the dedicated time each Saturday to discuss what they learned. 

In all, more than 200 people took part in the workshops, info sessions, and courses. Forty-nine people completed their online course and earned a certificate and the opportunity to enroll in an additional class created by U-M for free, and will maintain that access for a year.  

Feeling Unqualified Re-Entering the Job Market

The opportunity to stand out in a crowded job market appealed to Munira Spiller, who had recently left her teaching job after nine years and was looking for a new challenge. 

“It was daunting looking at the available jobs and all the required qualifications. I have all these skills, but I was entering a whole new world. I felt behind, unprepared, and unqualified,” Spiller said. 

The hybrid learning style helped make the material in the course, “Successful Negotiations: Essential Strategies and Skills” come to life, Spiller said. She also appreciated an in-person visit from the online instructor, George Siedel, emeritus faculty from the Ross School of Business. 

Saturdays in the D was a learning opportunity she felt like she couldn’t pass up. 

“I asked myself, ‘Why not?’ ” Spiller said. “What else is so important to do on a Saturday that you can’t spend two hours investing in yourself, learning something new, and building a community?”

It is About Access to Opportunity

“At the end of the day, it’s really about helping our residents achieve their next best, highest selves,” said Melia Howard, director of community relations for the City of Detroit and co-organizer of Saturdays in the D alongside Budde. 

“Improvement is a huge thing for me, especially for the people of Detroit. As the city has been revitalized, we must also invest in opportunities for its people. It’s not enough to talk only about opportunity. It’s about giving people access to opportunity.”

Munira Spiller’s experience in Saturdays in the D helped her take the next step in her career. The graduation ceremony came just days after she accepted a new job as an instructional coach to middle school teachers. She even credited her negotiation course with helping her secure a sign-on bonus when accepting the role. 

“Normally, I would be too stressed and would take the first offer presented to me. This time, I took a step back, said, ‘No,’ and we had multiple conversations. I feel like the course really helped me.”