OTAN Digest
Digest #14
March 2022
Message From The Director
As I sit down to write this message, OTAN's TDLS 2022 is just wrapping up. What a week! With almost 750 registrants and over 70 presentations, there was no lack of opportunity for professional growth. I hope that each of you were able to attend several of the amazing presentations. One of them focused on the 2022-2023 Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) and included CIP best practices do's and don'ts, evaluation of progress on current goals, creation of relevant SMART goals and activities, data collection, and a review of the CIP planning document.
This is the second year that WIOA II funded agencies will complete the CIP. This year's CIP was released on February 1 and will be due April 30. Resources are available and submission takes place through the California Online Application and Reporting (CA OAR) website. As you build your CIP team, consider including support staff, teachers, students, and administrators. Review your current goals and consider the data that demonstrates evidence of progress or completion. Use responses from the Teacher Self-Assessment and Student Technology Intake Survey as two of your data sources. In revising or creating your new SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Actionable, Relevant, Timebound) and action plan, be sure to take advantage of the CDE and State Leadership Project resources on the CA OAR website.
If you missed the CIP presentation at TDLS, there is additional training coming up. For these training opportunities, including CIP Office Hours coming up in April, register on the California Adult Education Professional Development site. As always, I invite you to stay engaged with OTAN for all your ed tech, distance, and blended learning needs. Be safe and well!
-Renee Collins
News
For Teachers
Nominate a Deserving Student for the Adult Education Students Succeed Program
Activities to Consider for Your Lessons
For Administrators
Advocating for Adult Education During Adult Ed Week
The Value of Open Educational Resources
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
March
Let's Get Jammin'!
by Cindy Wislofsky
If effective remote teaching has taught us anything, the importance of keeping students engaged while providing interactive, collaborative, task-based activities that work both synchronously and asynchronously is key. Enter Google Jamboard.
February
Canvas and Canvas Commons in Adult Education
by Francisco Pinedo
If you decide to use Canvas for your class, it is not an easy as 1-2-3 thing. You need to invest time to create your site, and then find appropriate resources to use from Canvas Commons or upload your own content.
January
Triple E Framework: Extension
by Debbie Jensen
The third component of the Triple E is Extension, which means connecting the learner to the real world.
Spotlight On...
OTAN Tech Talks!
OTAN Tech Talks are designed as short 20 to 30-minute presentations on a variety of edtech tools, technology integration strategies, technology resources, tips and tricks, and more. Every month on the second Friday at 1:00pm, a new topic will be covered to help keep your skills current and relevant with education technology, blended learning, distance learning, formative assessments, communications, and more. Here are some recent OTAN Tech Talks presented by adult education practitioners:
- Teaching Made Easier with Google Keep
- Turn PowerPoints into Accessible PDFs
- Simultaneous Instruction Using the HyFlex Model
- Creating Accessible Documents
- Licensing and Copyright
For additional OTAN Tech Talks recordings, visit the OTAN Tech Talks webpage on the OTAN website. And stay connected to OTAN! Please contact us at support@otan.us or call us at 916-228-2580. We'll see you at the next OTAN Tech Talk!
OTAN March And April Events
| Date/Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Mar 9 3 :00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Instruction: Engaging Instruction ★ | Online - Zoom |
| Thu, Mar 10 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
Microsoft: Easy Projects 3 - Forms | Online - Zoom |
| Fri, Mar 11 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Google: Customized Workshop ★ | Online - Zoom |
| Thu, Mar 17 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM |
LMS: Canvas Admin Q&A ★ | Online - Zoom |
| Fri, Mar 18 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Instruction: Teaching Vocabulary with Technology ★ | Online - Zoom |
| Fri, Mar 18 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
CIP: It's Not Too Early to Think About the 2022-23 Continuous Improvement Plan! | Online - Zoom |
| Tue, Mar 22 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM |
Special Event - Canvas: Your Choice for Learner Access & Equity | Online - Zoom |
| Fri, Mar 25 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
CIP: Dive Deep into the Continuous Improvement Plan! | Online - Zoom |
| Fri, Apr 1 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
CIP Open Office Hours | Online - Zoom |
| Fri, Apr 8 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM |
OTAN Tech Talks - Student Voice and Empowerment Through Technology | Online - Zoom |
| Mon, Apr 11 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
CIP Open Office Hours | Online - Zoom |
| Mon, Apr 11 Time TBA |
HyFlex: Simultaneous Instruction ★ | Online - Zoom |
| Thu, Apr 21 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM |
LMS: Canvas Admin Q&A ★ | Online - Zoom |
| Tue, Apr 26 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM |
Canvas: Your Choice for Learner Access & Equity | Online - Zoom |
OTAN training events are OPEN to Adult Education staff.
★ = CLOSED, In-Service Training
Professional Development
Did you know OTAN provides FREE professional development workshops to help Adult Educators integrate technology?
Think about scheduling OTAN Professional Development in the 2021-2022 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!
- OTAN Face-to-Face Workshops (which can be tailored for the virtual environment!)
- OTAN Online Workshops
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!