Top Story...
Upcoming OTAN Activities - Week of February 2
Posted on 01/30/2026
This Week’s Upcoming Activities
Thursday, February 5, 10:00 - 11:30 am | NotebookLM in Action: Audio, Video & Visual Tools (Part 1) | Farzana Cassim, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | This session provides a short, practical introduction to NotebookLM and then moves quickly into hands-on creation of Audio Overview, Video Overview, Flashcards, and Infographic. Participants can follow along as we explore how NotebookLM transforms uploaded content into interactive learning tools.
Friday, February 6, 12:00 - 1:00 pm | CIP 2026-27: Everything You Need to Know in 45 Minutes | Penny Pearson and Jaemi Naish, OTAN Subject Matter Experts | Don't let the Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) WIOA Title II deliverable deadline sneak up on you! Join us for an interactive and streamlined overview of the CIP process. This session is your opportunity to learn about the CIP deliverable, SMART goal requirements, submission timeline, collaborate with fellow educators, and learn how plans are evaluated. Prior to the webinar, participants are encouraged to review Dr. Zachry’s "Introduction to CIP" video and review their agency's current plan.
Coming soon!
New Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2:00 - 3:30 pm | AI assisted Storytelling Projects for ESL students | Barry Bakin, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | In this session, participants will learn how to use AI apps and other tools to create a unique story, including illustrations in online book form for writing practice and the excitement of story creation and publishing for themselves and for students. Participants will be guided through simple storyboarding, prompt writing, story generation, image generation, and publishing an online book that can be shared with others.
Thursday, February 12, 10:00 - 11:30 am | NotebookLM in Action: Mapping, Assessing & Presenting Ideas (Part 2) | Farzana Cassim, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | This second session builds on the foundations from Webinar 1 and dives deeper into NotebookLM’s tools for analysis, assessment, and presentation. Participants can follow along as we create outputs such as Mind Map, Quiz, Slide Deck, Reports, and Data Table together in real time.
Friday, February 13, 12:00 - 1:00 pm | OTAN Tech Talk February 2026: Canvas Mastery Paths: Differentiating Is Grating! (Uh, I Mean Great!) | Josh Eick, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | Do you have students who struggle with a lesson, some who do okay, and others who sail through the lesson quickly and get bored? Solve that problem with CANVAS mastery paths! Participants will learn how to use mastery paths in the Canvas LMS to differentiate learning for students in the same class.
Thursday, February 19, 2:30 - 3:30 pm | Northstar Digital Literacy User Group | Anthony Burik, OTAN Coordinator | Join this user-driven group of adult educators using Northstar Digital Literacy at their agencies. Some possibilities for regular meeting topics: hear about the different ways educators are using Northstar, share best practices and things that work, address and get advice on concerns and challenges, and exchange tips and ideas. Let’s discuss using Northstar for the benefit of our students, staff, and communities!
March 6-7, 2026 |  Technology and Digital Learning symposium (TDLS) 2026 | A hybrid conference at the Monterey Adult School! The Technology and Digital Learning Symposium, hosted by OTAN, is an annual hybrid conference featuring engaging, interactive presentations and vibrant discussions. This event is designed to demonstrate effective ways of incorporating technology to enrich the learning experience, expand educational reach through a combination of in-person and online learning, and improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of adult education programs. Register now!
