OTAN Digest - December 2024
Digest #46
December 2024
Spotlight On...
ACSA Students Succeed Awardees
Since 1996, ACSA recognizes 19 pre-K to adult students, one from each geographic region, as well as two California adult education students, for overcoming the odds and achieving success. This special ceremony highlights each person along with the people and programs that support them.
This year, Jazzmyn Williams, Visalia Adult School and Stephen Hughes, Norwalk La Mirada Adult School represented Adult Education at the Every Student Succeeding Award’s Ceremony on November 14th in San Diego. There to support them were their nominators & instructors, Ginger Allen, and Frank T. Stainbrook, administrators, Tami Olson, Mindy Chung, and Brian Randall, OTAN, and the adult education community.
This next year’s nomination window opens Wednesday, January 1, 2025, and closes Friday, March 21, 2025. Consider nominating a student or two!
To view other student stories and videos, visit the California Adult Education Students Succeed website.
Education Department releases highly anticipated AI toolkits for schools
Glossary of Artificial Intelligence Terms for Educators
Using Virtual Visits to Explore Our National Parks
This year the Technology and Digital Learning Symposium (TDLS) will continue to be a hybrid event. Join us in-person or virtually on March 7 and 8th hosted by OTAN and Long Beach Schools for Adults. Registration is now open!
The Digital Learning Guidance serves as a practical resource for adult educators and staff. While each chapter offers so much to think about, the question is, how to provide professional development on this important document? The solution begins with the first step. Access OTAN’s Newly curated training materials on the DLG (Digital Learning Guidance) webpage.
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.
December
Leveraging AI to Enhance CASAS STEPS Reading Test Preparation: A Guide for Educators
By Susan Coulter, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
The CASAS STEPS Reading test has been approved as the primary tool to measure progress and ensure accountability for adult English as a Second Language (ESL) students in California. This shift has left many teachers wondering about the most effective strategies to prepare their students for this important test.
November
The Adult Learner Variability Navigator (ALVN)
By Susan Gaer, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
The Adult Learner Navigability Navigator (ALVN) External Link Icon opens in new window or tab is a one of the only tools for adult educators that links learner factors, and strategies to research. The project was funded through Digital Promise, a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner.
October
HyFlex in Action: Revolutionizing Adult Education with Flexible Learning Models
By Alisa Takeuchi, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
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.
New Saturday Sessions with Alisa Takeuchi!
Message from the Director
As we gather to celebrate the season of Thanksgiving and prepare for the joys of winter holiday festivities, our thoughts turn to cherished traditions, delicious holiday meals, and the warmth of family and friends. Here at OTAN, we’re embracing the holiday spirit while gearing up for our annual hybrid Technology and Digital Learning Symposium (TDLS), happening March 7-8, 2025, online and in-person at Long Beach School for Adults.
TDLS will feature a hybrid format to accommodate those that are unable to attend in person as well as those who are. In addition to an inspiring lineup of presentations from other adult educators, administrators, and support personnel like yourselves, we also are excited to welcome Leticia Citizen as our opening keynote speaker. She’s passionate about social justice, equity, and technology-enhanced teaching. OTAN will also offer an expanded OTAN digital playground, and we’ll hold true to our tradition of wrapping up the conference with an OTAN Slam, where participants will be invited to share something new they’ve learned throughout the event!
Make plans to attend TDLS 2025, California’s premier adult education educational technology event, and commit to advancing technology and digital learning in California’s adult education programs. Participants will experience a variety of technology tools to expand, enhance, and engage learning for students. In-person registration is set at $50 and online registration is $20. Beyond quality, hands-on training, this day-and-a-half event will include breakfast and lunch on both Friday and Saturday. The price can’t be beat!
From all of us at OTAN, have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, gratitude, and memorable moments. We wish you a safe and happy New Year and look forward to seeing you at TDLS in early March!
-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education
OTAN December and January 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, or by email at support@otan.us.
To view workshops already scheduled, visit the California Adult Education Professional Development Calendar and search for workshops sponsored by OTAN. Don't miss out!