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Upcoming OTAN Activities - Week of March 23
Posted on 03/23/2026
Check out this month’s OTAN digest for our most recent Adult Ed news: March OTAN Digest
This week's Upcoming Activities
Friday, March 27, 12:00 - 1:00 pm | When AI Helps You Write: Smarter Goals, Better Plans | Steven Casperite, Principal, Placer School for Adults | Generative AI is changing how educators plan, write, and communicate—and it can make your work easier and more effective. Whether you’re drafting SMART goals for your Continuous Improvement Plan or developing a strategic plan for your program, AI can provide powerful support when used thoughtfully.
Friday, March 27, 1:00 - 2:00 pm | OTAN Tech Talk March 2026: Building Community: Working Together in Education with SharePoint | Chris Vela Che, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | Through a guided, step-by-step live demo, participants will follow along as a basic SharePoint team site is created and customized for an educational program. The workshop demonstrates practical uses such as organizing shared documents, posting announcements, managing shared calendars, and co-editing files to support teamwork. Participants will also learn how to personalize pages to meet the needs of different programs, departments, or instructional teams.
Coming Soon!
Tuesday, April 7, 2:00 - 3:30 pm | Using AI with Students | Barry Bakin, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | This presentation will explore student use of Artificial Intelligence tools and applications to enhance instruction. Attendees will gain insights on leveraging AI to create classroom-tested learning experiences for students. Participants will be guided through the activities in this hands-on learning experience. Most of the activities require no or minimal preparation.
Friday, April 10, 1:00 - 2:00 pm | Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) Office Hours | Jaemi Naish & Penny Pearson, OTAN; Carol Hirota, CALPRO | The CIP Office Hours are being made available for California Adult Education agencies that want specific guidance or feedback on their CIP goal(s) before submission. Arrive to ask questions and get feedback and support in your CIP planning and review. If the posted dates and times do not meet your needs, you can request one-on-one support by sending an email to support@otan.us with the subject line: CIP support. You will be contacted by OTAN staff to schedule a time for additional support on preparing your CIP.
Friday, April 10, 1:00 - 2:00 pm | OTAN Tech Talk April 2026: Effective HyFlex Teaching Strategies for Adult Education | Audrey Dierdorff, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | Discover how the HyFlex (Hybrid-Flexible) model empowers adult learners to choose the way they participate in class. You will gain practical strategies for adapting lesson plans using collaborative digital tools, cameras, and virtual manipulatives to bridge the gap between physical and remote classrooms. We will also cover digitizing resources and establishing instructional routines that boost student confidence. Join us to learn how this "no-barrier" approach increases student retention and persistence in adult education.
Saturday, April 11, 9:00 - 10:30 am | Purposeful Assignments: Designing Canvas Tasks for Adult Learners | Dana Thompson, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | Design Canvas assignments that are flexible, relevant, and aligned with adult learning needs. This session covers how to create meaningful tasks that promote autonomy, real-world application, and self-paced progress. Learn to leverage Canvas features like varied submission types, rubrics, and feedback tools to support engagement and success in adult learning environments.
Thursday, April 23, 2:00 - 3:00 pm | Putting English to Work in Canvas Francisca Wentworth, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | Putting English to Work (PETW) was created by teachers at LAUSD several years ago as an ESL Distance Learning video series. Episodes cover real-life situations many of our English Language Learners encounter in their daily lives. With the statewide adoption of Canvas, the complete English as a Second Language series, Putting English to Work 1-3, has been revised and updated with many interactive exercises that cover all language competencies. This session will walk you through the course and share the various interactive learning activities.
