OTAN Digest- January 2024

Message from the Director

Happy New Year!! OTAN is excited to engage in digital learning opportunities with you and your team in 2024. Here are a few items to add to your calendar:

• The California Adult Education Students Succeed (CAESS) External Link Icon opens in new window or tab nominations open January 2 and will close Friday, March 15. Each year, OTAN recognizes students who are successful as a result of the education received at adult education agencies. They inspire and embody a resilient spirit, overcome difficult challenges, contribute to their own communities, and improve their own circumstances. Nominate External Link Icon opens in new window or tab students from your agency before the deadline!
• Start your New Year with OTAN’s BEST course. The Building and Ed Tech Strategy Toolkit course’s kickoff is scheduled for January 12, 2024. The orientation/kickoff will provide an overview of the course which helps teachers develop a strategic approach to designing and implementing technology-based routines for their learners.
• The Technology and Distance Learning Symposium is a favorite of our teachers and support staff because of the practical and easily implementable tools and practices shared by colleagues in the adult education field. It’s also a fan favorite of our administrators because TDLS offers high-quality professional development at an extremely affordable price. Registration External Link Icon opens in new window or tab is now open and participants are welcome to engage with us in person ($40) or virtually ($20). See you at TDLS in Fremont, CA, on March 1 and 2!
• What does research say about how to design transformative, inclusive, and effective learning experiences for adult learners and how are California teachers putting this research into practice? Participate in a 7-week facilitated course beginning March 6, 2024, Digital Learning Guidance Course: Harnessing the Power of Online Education, walking you through the California Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance External Link Icon opens in new window or tab. Learn more about the course in an online information session scheduled for February 21.
• Mark your calendars for OTAN’s Triple E Framework Course Orientation scheduled for March 8, 2024. The Triple E Framework measures how well a tool or activity engages, enhances, and extends learning. This course is designed to walk instructors through a process of designing lesson plans that incorporate the EEE framework.
• Start planning your professional development for 2024-25 and 2025-26 now. The 2-year Digital Leadership Academy Cohort (DLAC) External Link Icon opens in new window or tab will open registration for its next cohort in late spring/early summer (dates TBD). DLAC assists agencies in meeting their technology integration, distance learning, or blended teaching goals. The program is designed to be flexible in how agencies can best use the resources offered by OTAN to support their agency goals. Agencies’ DLAC projects are generally aligned to their Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) goals.
• OTAN wants to work with you on custom professional development for your team. Training can be in-person or virtual. Dates for the remainder of 2023-24 and the start of 2024-25 are filling quickly so don’t hesitate to reach out to OTAN at support@otan.us External Link Icon opens in new window or tab.

There are so many trainings, curriculum, and support available from OTAN that it’s impossible to list them all. Reach out to support@otan.us External Link Icon opens in new window or tab and ask one of our trained technology experts how it is OTAN can help your agency. We look forward to connecting with you soon. Until then, stay true to your resolutions and Happy New Year!

-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education