OTAN Digest - September 2024
Digest #43
September 2024
Spotlight On...
Video Presentations
In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, video presentations have become an invaluable resource for learners of all levels. Among the most accessible and beneficial of these are the video presentations recorded during TDLS (Technology and Digital Learning Symposium), various webinars, and the latest addition—video presentations from Canvas trainings. These resources serve as versatile tools, offering a wide range of learning opportunities.
One of the primary advantages of these video presentations is the ability to revisit the material multiple times at your own pace. Unlike live training sessions or in-person workshops, recorded video presentations allow learners to pause, rewind and review key points as often as needed. This feature is particularly beneficial for complex or technical subjects where understanding may require repeated exposure to the material. The Canvas training videos, for instance, are perfect for educators who need to familiarize themselves with new features or troubleshoot specific challenges in the platform.
Locate them on the OTAN.us Website menu bar. Click on Video Presentations and the drop-down menu of choices appears to search whenever you’d like.
Election 2024 Interactive Voting Guide External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
California Prison Programs and Reentry Pathways External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Google Voice Typing External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Canvas & ASAP Workaround from the Field
New to the California Adult Education Canvas Commons is the ASAP Workaround course created by OTAN Subject Matter Expert, Christina Hyatt. Included in this course are videos demonstrating how to integrate ASAP with Canvas and SIS Imports for Course and User Creation. Christina highlights the process step by step and offers work arounds she learned through her own experiences.
Register for OTAN’s next online session: ASAP & Canvas: A Workaround from the Field Friday External Link Icon opens in new window or tab, September 27, 11-12:30 pm
If you need additional support with this integration, then please contact aecanvas@scoe.net External Link Icon opens in new window or tab and we can schedule a training session for you with Christina.
August 14-16 OTAN Subject Matter Experts
On August 14-16, 2024, the Sacramento County Office of Education (COE) was abuzz with energy and collaboration as the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) hosted its highly anticipated Training of Trainers (ToT) event. This in-person gathering brought together subject matter experts (SMEs) from across the state focused on building belonging, enhancing professional skills, and exploring the role of data in OTAN presentations. Central to the event's success was the emphasis on transformative Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for adults, a concept that proved essential in fostering a supportive and cohesive learning environment.
Another highlight of the ToT event was the curation of OTAN presentations, each packed with interactive features designed to engage participants and facilitate hands-on learning. Recognizing that adult learners benefit from active participation, the OTAN team meticulously designed sessions that went beyond traditional lecture-style presentations.
SMEs experienced many strategies and tools that they could immediately implement in their classrooms or training environments. By curating content that was both relevant and engaging, OTAN ensured that participants left the event re-energized for the year.
Schedule an online or in-person professional development session or a series of sessions at support@otan.us. External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Monthly, SMEs write an article about technology and how it correlates with teaching and learning. These articles become companions of each OTAN Tech Talk. While OTAN welcomes an article or Tech Talk from any adult educator in California, our SMEs without fail consistently write about the most innovative ideas for adult education classrooms.
September
Treat yourself to Twee’s Free AI Tools
By Kristi Reyes, Subject Matter Expert, OTAN
Adult educators who are early adopters have embraced the power of generative AI tools to create customized lesson materials, differentiate instruction, and save time. Using Large Language Models such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and others effectively requires an understanding of how to prompt the tools, but sometimes the output just does not give us what we are hoping for.
August
Accessibility: Creating an Equitable Learning Environment – An Agency Approach
By Debbie Jensen, Subject Matter Expert, OTAN
Accessibility explained as the “ability to access for everyone.” When accessibility occurs for those with disabilities, access improves for everyone. This article encourages action for us to ensure our methods are equitable.
July
Enhance Adult Education Lessons with Online Video Using AI Tools
By Kristi Reyes, Subject Matter Expert, OTAN
Videos support enhancing background knowledge for our students. Culminate video viewing with a post-viewing activity such as a reflection, discussion or a writing assignment or project. Creating these materials can be time consuming. Luckily there are several AI options available. Two are detailed within this article.
Ready to be an Innovator?
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines facilitate planning for learner variability. While adult educators quite often anticipate how lessons can be altered for differentiation, there might be ways to pre-plan for learning which add student voice and choice.
How?
Educators can now use UDL-aligned lessons. These infused lessons offer educators an opportunity to see how UDL practically works in the classroom.
Student Voice Project External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
The Basics.
- Design and teach a UDL lesson from the Lesson Bank.
- Introduce your adult learners to UDL
- Share a survey with your students.
- Provide your feedback on the lesson and experience.
Message from the Director
Research recently published by the National Skills Coalition (2023) has found that 91% of jobs in California require digital skills, and yet at least a third of the workforce lacks the foundational digital skills needed to obtain those in-demand jobs. The NSC has created a new 2-page fact sheet spotlighting California’s data on digital skills. This fact sheet External Link Icon opens in new window or tab can be useful as an information tool to use with your students, staff, and stakeholders, for media purposes, and otherwise. The findings indicate that states who invest significant funds in digital skill building could generate measurable monetary benefits. Funding like the Digital Equity Act and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program can help fund quality programs to narrow the gap between those with access to skills training and those that do not. What are you doing to address the digital skills divide in your classrooms and programs? Check out the NSC’s web site External Link Icon opens in new window or tab to learn more about how to close California’s digital skills divide.
To close the digital divide with our adult education practitioners and students, OTAN provides a wealth of resources to tap into. On our Video Presentations page, you can find accessible videos featuring California’s Adult Ed Digital Learning Guidance, GenerativeAI, Digital Tools and Devices, and so much more! I challenge you to watch at least one of the videos in September!
As always, reach out to support@otan.us External Link Icon opens in new window or tab for any of your digital training and resource needs. We look forward to working with your team this year!
-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education
OTAN September and October 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 2024-2025 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!