Top Story...

Back-to-School with OTAN 2026: Teaching Resources for Today's Adult Learners (Pt. 3)

Posted on 08/18/2026

Part 3 of the Back-to-School with OTAN 2026 Series

Adult education classrooms continue to evolve as educators respond to changing learner needs, new technologies, workforce demands, and diverse instructional settings. Whether teaching in person, online, or in a blended environment, having access to high-quality instructional resources can save time and enhance the learning experience.

Back-to-School with OTAN 2026 is a six-part series highlighting the tools, resources, and opportunities available to California adult educators throughout the school year. Whether you're a classroom teacher, support staff member, administrator, or consortium leader, OTAN is here to help you learn, connect, innovate, and succeed.

In this article, we'll explore teaching resources that can help you engage learners, build digital literacy skills, support instructional goals, and strengthen student success throughout the year.

Resources Designed with Adult Educators in Mind

OTAN offers a variety of instructional resources developed specifically for California adult education programs. These tools are designed to help educators integrate technology effectively while supporting learners across program areas, including English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), Career Technical Education (CTE), and workforce preparation.

Whether you're looking for a ready-to-use classroom activity, lesson planning support, digital learning guidance, or content to enhance instruction, OTAN has resources to help.

Teaching with Technology

🔗 https://otan.us/Resources/TeachingWithTechnology

One of OTAN's most popular instructional resources is Teaching with Technology. This searchable collection provides lesson ideas, technology integrations, and instructional strategies that help educators bring digital tools into the classroom in meaningful ways. Educators can search by subject area, instructional level, standards, and technology tool.

Teaching with Technology is especially useful when you want to:

• Introduce a new digital tool
• Increase student engagement
• Incorporate digital literacy skills
• Align technology use with instructional objectives
• Find ideas from fellow educators

Instead of starting from scratch, educators can build on proven ideas and adapt them to meet local program needs.

Web-Based Class Activities

🔗 https://otan.us/Resources/WebBasedClassActivity

Looking for an activity you can use right away?

OTAN's Web-Based Class Activities provide technology-enhanced instructional ideas organized around topics, themes, and digital tools. These activities offer practical suggestions for integrating technology into teaching and often include ideas for getting started quickly.

These resources can be especially helpful when:

• Introducing a new instructional unit
• Supplementing existing curriculum
• Building technology skills alongside academic content
• Encouraging collaboration and creativity

Even one activity can introduce learners to new ways of interacting with content and developing digital confidence.

Lesson Plan Builder

🔗 https://lessonbuilder.otan.us

Creating detailed lesson plans can be time-consuming. OTAN's Lesson Plan Builder provides educators with a framework for developing and sharing instructional plans with colleagues throughout the adult education community.

The Lesson Plan Builder can help educators:

• Organize lesson objectives
• Align instruction with standards
• Integrate technology intentionally
• Share effective practices
• Build a library of reusable instructional resources

Collaboration and sharing are at the heart of adult education, and the Lesson Plan Builder supports both.

California EL Civics Exchange

🔗 https://elcivics.otan.us

For educators working in ESL and EL Civics programs, the California EL Civics Exchange serves as a valuable repository of instructional materials created by adult education professionals across the state. These resources are designed to support civic participation, community engagement, and language development for adult English learners.

The Exchange allows educators to:

• Access classroom-tested materials
• Discover instructional ideas
• Save lesson development time
• Share promising practices with peers

By learning from one another, educators strengthen opportunities for learners statewide.

California Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance

🔗 https://otan.us/Resources/DigitalLearningGuidance

Digital learning remains an important part of adult education. OTAN's California Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance provides support for educators, support staff, counselors, administrators, and others involved in helping adult learners succeed in technology-rich environments.

The guidance includes considerations and strategies related to:

• Digital learning implementation
• Learner support
• Instructional practices
• Program planning
Technology access and engagement

Whether you're teaching online, blended, or face-to-face, these resources can help strengthen digital learning experiences for all learners.

Curriculum Offers

🔗 https://otan.us/Resources/Home/CurriculumOffers

OTAN also helps connect agencies to Curriculum Offers, which include free or reduced-cost instructional resources and professional learning opportunities negotiated on behalf of California adult education programs. These offers support multiple program areas and can provide additional tools to enhance instruction and learner outcomes.

📌 Note: there are still several available spots for agencies in the Northstar Digital Literacy pilot.