OTAN Digest - October 2024
Digest #44
October 2024
Spotlight On...
California EL Civics Exchange
A joint project of CASAS and OTAN funded by the California Department of Education, Adult Education Office.
Click on the Resources tab featured on the OTAN.us website and a dropdown menu appears. Click on the EL Civics Exchange, the ninth choice from the top, and browse this month’s Digest Spotlight.
This repository of original EL Civics instructional materials can be accessed to teach English language learner students as part of the 30 hours of required instruction before administering an EL Civics Assessment (COAPP).
There are two different ways a person can find instructional materials. The first is by clicking on the box which represents one of the seven competency areas either in the navigation tool bar or on one of the picture tiles. The second way is to search by COAPP number, Language Proficiency Level, or Instructional Material keyword.
All materials are accessible according to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 recommendations.
There’s also a submission process to share and post the lessons you use in your classroom.
AI Integration Framework External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Closing California's Digital Skill Divide External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Helping Students Set Goals in 5 Easy Steps External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
“Educators cannot provide effective digital learning experiences without first understanding adult learners.”
Reader’s Guide External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Facilitator’s Guide External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
This is excerpted from Chapter 3: Adult Learning Theories section from the California Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance.
Andragogy includes the following core adult learning principles. Adult learners:
- need to know the why, what, and how of learning;
- are autonomous and self-directed;
- use prior experiences as mental models and resources for learning;
- have a readiness to learn and seek life-related learning experiences;
- are contextual and problem-centered (rather than theoretical); and
- have an intrinsic motivation to learn.
The andragogical process model includes the following steps:
- Preparing learners for the learning experience
- Establishing a collaborative, respectful, and open climate for learning
- Mutual planning and decision-making about the learning process
- Establishing learning needs; considering both individual and organizational goals
- Mutual creation of learning goals and objectives
- Designing the learning experience
- Participating in learning activities (e.g., experiential or inquiry-based learning)
- Evaluating learner outcomes and perceptions of the learning experience
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Six Civic Resources
Written by Jennifer Gagliardi, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
Six Civics resources that you and your students can use immediately to construct Civics Literacy.
- LINCS: Civics Resources for Constitution and Citizenship Week 2024 External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Updated list of resources and activities that celebrate Constitution and Citizenship Week which coincides with Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (Sept 16-20).
- National Constitution Center: 2024-2025 Civic Calendar “Election Connections” External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Explore the history of elections and voting rights in the United States, highlighting key events such as the Electoral College, Inauguration Day, and voter technology. Sign up now External Link Icon opens in new window or tab and receive your free copy of the Civic Calendar or download the pdf External Link Icon opens in new window or tab.
- NewsLit: Election 2024: Be informed, not misled
NewsLit includes lesson plans focused on information media literacy. Their Misinformation Dashboard: Election 2024 External Link Icon opens in new window or tab empowers advanced students to identify and avoid viral election falsehoods.
- Pro Literacy: Election 2024 Interactive Voting Guide pdf External Link Icon opens in new window or tab | online class External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Simple interactive videos and pdf that give an overview of voting rights, responsibilities, and activities. Stay tuned for the upcoming ProLiteracy News Literacy Course.
- USA Learns: Access America External Link Icon opens in new window or tab UPDATE
- uscitizenpod: 10 Practice Citizenship Interviews External Link Icon opens in new window or tab based on the USCIS Form N-400 (2024)
The pdfs are fillable (to encourage digital literacy and support distance learning). Additionally, every effort has been made to make the pdfs accessible to people of all abilities. More pdfs will be posted soon
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.
October
HyFlex in Action: Revolutionizing Adult Education with Flexible Learning Models
By Alisa Takeuchi, Subject Matter Expert, OTAN
The HyFlex (Hybrid-Flexible) model of instruction has gained significant traction in adult education, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This instructional approach allows students to choose between attending classes in person, participating online in real-time, (simultaneous instruction) or engaging with course materials asynchronously.
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.
What’s an ePortfolio?
EPortfolios External Link Icon opens in new window or tab accessed cost-free through your Canvas instance creates a digital space for students to display and share their work. There are also ways to use ePortfolios as a repository for all work/career related items like a resume, cover letters, example/s of class projects or work, which can then be shared with future employers. Guide External Link Icon opens in new window or tab to begin with Canvas ePortfolios.
A Framework for Digital Equity
A New Approach to Digital Equity: A Framework for States and Schools External Link Icon opens in new window or tab offers a comprehensive approach for school and system leaders to transform current educational practices and to also prepare for future technological advances. This framework explains how the five domains interconnect with one another. Each plays a crucial role in fostering digital equity. For the framework to effectively work, all five domains must be interconnected and no domain neglected.
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Message from the Director
The CREATE Adult Skills Network External Link Icon opens in new window or tab, now in its fourth year, helps adult practitioners build their knowledge about using technology to support teaching and learning. The CREATE Adult Skills Network (the Network), facilitates the development, adoption, and evaluation of technology-supported interventions to build adult foundational skills and academic attainment. OTAN has volunteered as a Network partner through participation in monthly workgroup discussions and meetings focused on identifying a variety of approaches to using technology to improve or measure adult skills development.
American Institutes for Research, the parent organization for CALPRO, leads the Network with other key partners such as Abt Associates, Jobs for the Future, and the EdTech Center at World Education, Inc. Collectively, their role is to create research and resources that can be used in various educational settings.
One of the resources that has recently been made available to the field is the Network’s podcast, the TALK. TALK stands for Technology in Adult Learning Knowledge-Building External Link Icon opens in new window or tab. In this podcast, they share the latest news, research, and best practices in using technology for adult education. They also talk to experts about how they use technology to help adults learn better. One episode focuses on the use of generative AI in adult education, exploring practical applications. Another episode highlights the importance of digital literacy for adult learning, especially those from vulnerable populations.
Be sure to bookmark the Network and check back regularly for new resources that are being released nationally. Also, be sure you’re staying connected with OTAN External Link Icon opens in new window or tab for the latest resources and professional development. A quick plug, the Call for Proposal and Registration for the Technology and Digital Learning Symposium External Link Icon opens in new window or tab will be available in the coming weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with other digital equity minded individuals from around the state!
-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education
OTAN October and November 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!