Top Story...
Upcoming OTAN Activities - Week of June 1
Posted on 06/01/2026
Check out this month’s OTAN digest for our most recent Adult Ed news!
This Week’s Upcoming Activities
Monday, June 1, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Overview of OTAN’s Self-Paced Accessibility Course | Penny Pearson and Debbie Jensen, OTAN Subject Matter Experts | Join us for an informative webinar introducing OTAN’s Self-Paced Accessibility Course, a flexible online learning experience designed to strengthen accessibility awareness and skills across California’s adult education community. This session will highlight the purpose of the course, walk you through its modules, and explain how it supports more inclusive digital learning environments for all learners.
Wednesday, June 3, 10:00 am - 11:30 am | Creating Videos Using PowerPoint | Penny Pearson, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | In this session, participants will be shown how to create videos that can be used to present content using PowerPoint. Participants will learn how to create a quick presentation with PowerPoint, add voiceover and then export the file as a video that can then be shared with students, used on a website, or referenced in class.
Thursday, June 4, 10:00 am - 11:00 am | Purposeful Professional Development for Adult Ed Digital Leadership | Anthony Burik and Ana Mendoza-Santiago, OTAN Coordinators; Nicole Lopez, Long Beach School for Adults; Yecsenia Castro, Hacienda-La Puente Adult Education | OTAN's Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC) is long-term professional development that builds digital leadership capacity within adult education agencies. This webinar will explore DLAC's two-year model which develops teacher leaders who can effectively integrate technology into teaching practices. We will discuss how DLAC equips participants with the knowledge and skills to cultivate a technology-driven atmosphere with their institutions through collaboration, coaching, and equity-driven design. The application to join OTAN's 2026-28 DLAC cohort is open through August 10, and we will provide more information on how to apply and participate.
Thursday, June 4, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Using Northstar to Develop Digital Literacy Skills | Anthony Burik, OTAN Coordinator | The mission of Northstar Digital Literacy is to help individuals around the world master the digital skills needed to work, learn, and participate fully in daily life. Find out how California agencies are using Northstar to help adult education learners and staff develop digital literacy skills. Individuals complete assessments and earn certificates, while agencies can also provide additional instruction with Northstar curricular materials. See the results and hear from instructors who were part of the 2024-26 pilot program sponsored by OTAN. Join us to find out how your agency can be part of the upcoming 2026-28 pilot program.
It’s not too late to sign up for the OTAN Regional Bay Area Canvas Summit on Friday, June 5th 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. This regional summit is designed to bring together colleagues from across the Bay Area to learn, collaborate, and share strategies for supporting instruction, student engagement, and program management using Canvas.
Coming soon!
Tuesday, June 9, 12:00 - 1:30 pm | Crafting Narratives: Gemini Storybook for Adult Education | Susan Gaer, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | The Gemini Storybook feature is more than just a tool for children—it is a sophisticated resource for adult educators seeking to enhance comprehension and engagement. This hands-on demonstration will walk you through the end-to-end process of leveraging AI to create powerful narrative-based learning materials.
Friday, June 12, 1:00 - 2:00 pm | OTAN Tech Talk June 2026: Building Apps with Gemini Canvas | Susan Gaer, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | In this session, educators will discover how to transform classroom ideas into functional, interactive applications without writing a single line of traditional code. By leveraging Gemini Canvas, teachers can use natural language to create activities ranging from grammar games to vocabulary builders—tailored specifically to the needs of adult learners.
