OTAN Digest
Digest #1
January 2021
Message From The Director
It's January and a great time to commit to new learning goals. Digital Promise External Link Icon opens in new window or tab, an independent, nonprofit committed to accelerating innovation in education for all learners, has just released its Adult Learner Model External Link Icon opens in new window or tab. What does research say about the factors that affect adult learner outcomes? What instructional strategies support these research-based factors? How can you as a teacher or administrator use the Adult Learner Model to positively impact adult learning experiences and outcomes? Digital Promise's interactive Adult Learner Model explores each of these questions while also highlighting how adults' literacies, cognitive abilities, social-emotional learning, and personal experiences interact to develop the essential skills needed to survive and thrive in today's world.
As always, I invite you to stay engaged with OTAN to meet all your ed tech, distance, and blended learning needs! Stay healthy and well …and Happy New Year!
-Renee Collins
News
For Teachers
Resources to Share on the COVID-19 Vaccine
Nominate a Deserving Student for the Adult Education Students Succeed Program
For Administrators
Register for OTAN's Technology and Distance Learning Symposium!
Resources for the Continuous Improvement Plan
Are you looking for a way to integrate technology in your classes? Visit Teaching with Technology on the OTAN website and start searching for ESL, ABE, ASE, and even CTE lesson ideas today!
Web-Based Class Activities
January
Meeting Students Online: Jitsi Meet and Online Whiteboards
by Debbie Jensen
Try a new online meeting platform called Jitsi Meet.
December
Incorporate Bitmoji into Your Lessons
by Alisa Takeuchi
Bitmojis create a fun, interactive theme to lessons, email, and banners Founded by Canadian company Bitstrips, Bitmojis were originally created in 2007 to help users make comic strips with personal avatars. In 2014, Bitmoji stickers were created for use in messaging apps.
Spotlight On...
OTAN Social Media
In addition to having an OTAN account and receiving periodic emails and communications from OTAN, one of the best ways to stay connected to OTAN throughout the school year is to subscribe to our social media sites. We are increasing our social media presence via four sites. Please consider subscribing to one or more of our social media sites to stay connected:
- Twitter: twitter.com/otan External Link Icon opens in new window or tab or @OTAN
- Facebook: facebook.com/otanservesadulteducation External Link Icon opens in new window or tab or @otanservesadulteducation
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/otan_2 External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
- YouTube: youtube.com/otanservesadulteducation External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
You can also connect to our social media from the OTAN website. Click on the Stay Connected menu on the top of the OTAN.us website and select Social Media, or look for the social media icons in the bottom footer of the homepage.
Social media is a great way to learn more about what OTAN is working on and contribute to your own professional development. Please subscribe to our sites and add your voice to social media conversations with your fellow adult education colleagues.
Stay connected to OTAN! We look forward to hearing from you online!
OTAN FEBRUARY AND MARCH 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 2020-2021 school year. With a wide variety of technology topics from which to choose, OTAN training staff will present for any WIOA-funded adult education program in California either online or face-to-face with a computer lab or devices connected to the Internet. (Note that face-to-face trainings will be scheduled when it is safe and OTAN staff are free to travel.)
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 External Link Icon opens in new window or tab and search for workshops sponsored by OTAN. Don't miss out!