OTAN News
Upcoming OTAN Activities - Week of Sept 15
In 2025, Adult Education and Family Literacy Week will be observed September 14 to September 20. Get involved and spread the word about why adult education matters!
OTAN Digest – September 2025
This Week’s Upcoming Activities
Saturday, September 13, 9:00 - 10:30 am | Mastering Canvas Modules for Student Engagement with Dana Thompson, OTAN Subject Matter Expert. Unlock the power of Canvas Modules to create a clear, engaging learning experience. This session will show you how to structure content logically, chunk information effectively, and align materials with your syllabus. Learn how to use publish dates, prerequisites, and requirements to guide students through your course at the right pace.
Friday, September 19, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Discover Canvas: An Introduction for Adult Educators with Miranda Currie, OTAN Project Specialist. This session is designed for educators and administrators who are new to Canvas and curious about how it can support teaching and learning in adult education. Participants will gain an understanding of the purpose and benefits of using Canvas, explore its most useful features, and see how the platform can enhance blended, hybrid, and fully online instruction.
Friday, September 19, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Using Generative AI Tools to Create Instructional Materials with Anthony Burik, OTAN Coordinator. In this session, participants will learn practical ways to leverage AI tools for efficiency, creativity, and personalization in their teaching. The session will include a review of lesson planning and an introduction to and practice using some AI tools for a variety of potential creations.
Saturday, September 20, 9:00 - 10:30 am | Student Engagement Through Canvas New Quizzes with Dana Thompson, OTAN Subject Matter Expert. Discover how Canvas New Quizzes can enhance formative assessment and boost student engagement. Learn to design interactive, low-stakes check-ins with immediate feedback that support self-paced learning and autonomy. This session covers customizable settings, media integration, and diverse question types to help make assessment more flexible, inclusive, and student-centered.
Coming soon!
September 24 - 26 | Going to the 2025 CAEP Summit in Anaheim, CA? OTAN will be there! Stop by our booth or join us for sessions on Canvas, digital learning data, blended learning strategies, and more.
Saturday, October 25, 9:00 - 10:30 am | Accessible by Design: Building Inclusive Canvas Courses with Dana Thompson, OTAN Subject Matter Expert. In this session, you’ll learn how to apply accessibility best practices in Canvas to ensure your content is inclusive, usable, and welcoming to every student. Explore practical strategies for formatting content, using alternative text, designing with color contrast in mind, and structuring pages for screen reader compatibility. You’ll also learn how to use Canvas’s built-in accessibility checker and ensure your multimedia, links, and assessments are fully accessible.