OTAN Digest - June 2024
Digest #40
June 2024
Spotlight On...
Congratulations to all agencies who nominated an adult learner for the Students Succeed awards. The following list honors each student and their respective agency and nominator. These adult learner stories and photographs will be added to our website External Link Icon opens in new window or tabpending a signed waiver External Link Icon opens in new window or tab by the student. We love this opportunity to feature adult education programs, educators, and students. Adult Education Matters.
Norwalk-La Mirada Adult School
Angelica Maria Huante
Nominator: Joyce Jang
Ana Laura Romo
Nominator: Joyce Jang
Stephen Hughes
Nominator: Frank T. Stainbrook
Angeline Guzman
Nominator: Janis Gevirtzman
Angela Gonzalez
Nominator: Jason Kang
Wendy Anguiano
Nominator: Christopher Chavarria
Rasika Sanjeewani Weerasinghe
Nominator: Christopher Chavarria
Colusa County Adult School
Susana Barba
Nominator: Alena Anberg
Soledad Adult School
Alma Gomez
Guadalupe Navidad
Nominator: Francisco X. Pinedo, Jr.
Folsom-Cordova Adult School
Rokhsar and Muzhgan Seerat
Nominator: Collette MacDonald
San Juan Adult Education, Sunrise Tech Center
Mariell David
Nominator: Lois Rhodes
Fresno City College
Brandon Marroquin
Nominator: Lisa Vincent
Visalia Adult School
Khulood Alfareh
Nominator: Tiffany Bridgwater-Rowe
Jazzmyn Williams
Nominator: Ginger Allen
California's Digital Equity Plan Accepted External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Spring Newsletter External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Myths and Facts about People with Disabilities
The Easterseals website External Link Icon opens in new window or tab offers practical support and education about people living with a disability. In fact, this month’s feature details thirteen myths and facts which serve to educate us beyond stereotypes. Highlighted here are three favorites. Access to the entire article External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Myth 1: People with disabilities are brave and courageous.
Fact: “Adjusting to a disability requires adapting to a lifestyle, not bravery and courage.” Be mindful about using these terms as they are often “seen as offensive” to a person with a disability for simply existing.
Myth 5: People who are blind acquire a "sixth sense."
Fact: Although most people who are blind develop their remaining senses more fully, they do not have a "sixth sense."
Myth 8: Curious children should never ask people about their disabilities.
Fact: Many children have a natural, uninhibited curiosity and may ask questions that some adults consider embarrassing. But scolding curious children may make them think having a disability is "wrong" or "bad." Most people with disabilities won't mind answering a child's question – just ask and introduce your child beforehand.
New or Renewing OTAN Canvas Licenses?
OTAN is happy to announce some positive changes to how we process Canvas Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). The Canvas 2024-25 MOU is now designated as evergreen, meaning, once processed, it will remain in effect for five years or until either your AGENCY or OTAN opts not to renew it.
Another new change is OTAN will pay for the full cost of all AGENCY Canvas licenses for fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26, pending final approval of OTAN’s contract for the next grant cycle by the California Department of Education (CDE).
For further assistance, email aecanvas@scoe.net.
June
Put A Little MagicSchool Into Your Classroom
Audrey Dierdorff, Subject Matter Expert, OTAN
As large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Gemini are being utilized more and more in education, we, as adult educators, need to become prompt engineering aficionados, finessing prompts to get the results we want. But really, who has time for that? Here is where the rays of light come from the heavens and illuminates MagicSchool.AI . This tool was created to alleviate teacher burn-out by creating easy to use AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools for lesson planning, differentiation, assessments, and more.
May
Using AI Tools in Citizenship Preparation and Civics Education
By Jennifer Gagliardi, Subject Matter Expert, OTAN
On April 1, 2024, USCIS released a new fee rule and an updated N-400 Application for Naturalization. This article communicates an overview of the changes, helpful links to updated forms, and a compare/contrast of the material with the N-400 updated Interview and the past one. There are recommendations for Voice-enabled Gen AI Apps to practice for the interview. With this article, your Citizenship classes will be ready for updating and more students attaining citizenship.
April
Hybrid, Hyflex, and Online Live Learning Modalities
by Diana Vera-Alba, Subject Matter Expert, OTAN
Educators and students benefit from the flexibility of the various learning modalities now available for adult education programs. Preparation is key to the success of these innovative and engaging learning environments. In this article, you will learn about the characteristics that differentiate the Hybrid, HyFlex, and Online Live learning modalities and some tips to assist you in preparing for, planning, and implementing these innovative modes of instruction.
The OTAN team lovingly said goodbye to our 2022-24 DLAC cohort, May 16-17. Teams presented their work, progress, challenges, and successes with each of their goals. Each agency shared their DLAC story, team personalities, and plan to continue the work. We will miss each of you and look forward to staying connected. DLAC presentations were recorded and will be made available coming soon.
Message from the Director
On May 17, I had the privilege to be in-person to hear how each of OTAN’s eight Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC) agencies had leveraged new learning in the areas of strategic planning and leadership to successfully implement a technology-aligned objective for continuous improvement and make progress toward student and program outcomes.
Over a two-year period, DLAC participants worked towards their identified technology goal, ensuring that staff and learners had access to the resources and support they needed to achieve measurable progress. You may be as curious as I was to hear what ambitions DLAC teams had for their school sites. The presentation topics included program-level or agency-wide implementation of Northstar Digital Literacy, Canvas Learning Management System, and HyFlex. In addition, an agency was using the Flipped Classroom Model to successfully offer blended learning. Other topics related to professional learning around digital literacy and resilience for teachers and students, CASAS data sharing, Gallup Strengths training, and growing enrollment and college and employment transitions through online orientations. One of the participants, Patrick O’Neil with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), speaking of next steps said, “We’re going to go from being a consumer of OTAN to a producer through OTAN.”
The next cohort for the Digital Leadership Academy is forming now. Applications External Link Icon opens in new window or tab are available on the OTAN website and are due no later than August 9, 2024. This is a competitive application and will require time to gather the various components. Don’t delay in submitting your application!
As always, contact OTAN for any of your technology-related training and resource needs. We look forward to working with you in 2024-25! Email support@OTAN.us External Link Icon opens in new window or tab to get started today.
-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education
OTAN June and July Events
OTAN training events are OPEN to Adult Education staff.
★ = CLOSED, In-Service Training
Professional Development - Plan Ahead!
Did you know OTAN provides FREE professional development workshops to help Adult Educators integrate technology?
Think about scheduling OTAN Professional Development in the 2023-2024 school year. With a wide variety of technology topics from which to choose, OTAN training staff can provide in-person workshops or presentations at any approved California adult education agency or professional development event, either online or face-to-face with a computer lab or devices connected to the Internet.
All OTAN's workshops are provided at no cost!
Each session is hands-on - everyone will learn new skills related to technology or using technology that they can use in their adult education class or program. And all OTAN online or face-to-face workshops can be tailored to fit the needs of the requesting program. Select the links to see a list of the current online or face-to-face workshops and descriptions. If you don't see a workshop that is exactly what you need, contact OTAN - we'll work together to create a training that's best for you and your staff!
Need more information? Contact OTAN training staff anytime by phone at (916) 228-2580 External Link Icon opens in new window or tab, or by email at support@otan.us External Link Icon opens in new window or tab.
To view workshops already scheduled, visit the California Adult Education Professional Development Calendar External Link Icon opens in new window or tab and search for workshops sponsored by OTAN. Don't miss out!