Teacher Digest
Digest #119
September 2020
News
News items from earlier this year as you start the new school year!
Resources to Continue Teaching
OTAN has compiled a list of resources to review that cover a variety of online learning topics.
Doing Our Own Digital Learning
Sometimes in our corner of the universe we feel frustration, overwhelm, and confusion when it comes to getting started with and sustaining technology use.
Keeping Everyone Safe on the Internet
Safer Internet Day is a good reminder of the continuous need to educate everyone on staying safe online, protecting personal data, and acting as good netizens.
Using Video to Engage Students
Teachers are using video in all kinds of way to deliver content and engage students. Video projects can be simple creations or more elaborate activities that utilize a number of digital skills.
The Power of Graphic Organizers
We are always looking for ways that students can make better sense of the information we provide them in our lessons. Note-taking is one way of doing this, but we have a lot of other tools at our disposal that students can use.
External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
Are you looking for a way to integrate technology in your classes? Visit Teaching with Technology External Link Icon opens in new window or tab on the OTAN website and start searching for ESL, ABE, ASE, and even CTE lesson ideas today!
Web-Based Class Activities
September
H5P Interactive Module Comes to Moodle 3.8
by Susan Coulter
OTAN recently upgraded their Moodle Learning Management System to Moodle 3.8 and with the upgrade, they added a H5P Activity Module and numerous games. You may be wondering, what is H5P? It is an abbreviation for HTML5 Package. H5P makes it easy for everyone to create, share and reuse interactive HTML5 content.
June
Curating Lessons and Resources Using Wakelet
by Susan Gaer
Wakelet is a free service that allows educators and librarians to curate content from across the web, gather research, create digital portfolios, tell digital stories, distribute newsletters, and much, much more.
Spotlight On...
From the Director, Renee Collins!
As you enter this school year, you may be feeling overwhelmed from the impact of the pandemic, the need to rapidly pivot to remote learning, and the pressure to retain, test, and provide students with the instructional content they need to successfully reach their academic, employment, or life goals.
At OTAN, we are working diligently to address these challenges head on with you. As in the past, our focus will continue to be the successful integration of educational technology, distance learning, and electronic collaboration and information. Engage with us by:
- Accessing resources on our COVID-19 Field Support webpage
- Attending webinars External Link Icon opens in new window or tab on topics that directly impact your classroom and students
- Adopting free curriculum resources or online courses External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
- And, staying connected External Link Icon opens in new window or tab with OTAN and adult education colleagues
The start of our year may not be our usual normal, but adult educators are innovative, flexible, and resourceful by definition and you will ultimately thrive! Don't hesitate to reach out to OTAN for support as you move through the year. We're here External Link Icon opens in new window or tab for you!
Recently, OTAN published a series of news items to provide information about essential OTAN features for you and your colleagues to know as you begin the school year. Learn more about OTAN and please share these news items with your colleagues!
- Create an OTAN Account - Stay in touch with OTAN throughout the school year!
- OTAN Trainings - Learn more about OTAN's professional development offerings.
- OTAN Teaching Tools and Resources - Learn about tools and resources that you can use in your classroom with you students.
- OTAN News Items and Social Media - More ways to stay connected to OTAN and keep abreast of tech tools and topics that adult educators should know.
We hope that you will find these news items useful. And please contact OTAN for your technology training needs at any time this year! Email us at support@otan.us External Link Icon opens in new window or tab or call us at 916-228-2580.
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 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!