OTAN Digest - August 2023
Digest #30
August 2023
Message from the Director
Welcome to Program Year 2023-2034 and the start of a new school year! We at OTAN hope you’ve had a chance to take time for yourself this summer, doing whatever makes you happy, healthy, and ready for the new year! I’m eager to share some of the new companion tools that OTAN has created to enhance the California Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance (DLG) that was released in September 2022. We’ve been fortunate to present the content of the DLG at several conferences. This fall, in addition to the recently updated DLG webpages, we will release
- A series of 6 animated videos providing a brief overview of each of the DLG chapters
- Reading guides introducing each of the 6 DLG chapters
- A Facilitator’s Guide to help digital leaders provide professional development around the DLG
- And a companion Canvas course that invites adult education staff to actively implement some of the recommended best practices for digital learning
So much of what we do as practitioners incorporates digital learning. OTAN is intentionally connecting our digital learning practices to the guidance and hope you will consider doing the same. OTAN is available to train staff at your site with the latest digital learning research and practice. We’re also here to train digital leaders to train your own staff through Training of Trainers (TOT) opportunities. Don’t hesitate to reach out to OTAN at support@otan.us. All of our presentations, workshops, coaching, and support are available at no cost to agencies. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Keep checking our website for the soon-to-be-released companion materials!
All the best as your students return to campus!
-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education
News
For Teachers
Register for the BEST (Building an EdTech Strategy Toolkit) Course for Adult Educators
For Administrators
News Item: ALLIN small Research Grant Initiative- Request for Proposals
News Item: Rural Coaching Project
OTAN is committed to sharing information about accessibility with the adult education field. On our Accessibility Resources, you will find OTAN-developed resources as well as resources you can use to learn more about accessibility and create your own accessible content.
August
Using Accessibility Features to Help ALL of Our Students Improve Their Learning
by Debbie Jensen
Over the past years I have focused on what we as educators must do to make our documents/presentations etc. accessible to our learners with disabilities. Along the way I discovered that as I made needed changes to my materials, I also increased the usability for my able-bodied learners. On this journey, I discovered that some of those accessibility features helped me as well. This article is to inform and motivate us all to know about accessibility features that will help our learners.
July
Genially Lives Up to Its Name
by Kristi Reyes
How many different technology tools do you use? Are you looking for a way to consolidate your online teaching and learning activities? Genially is a free web tool that combines the functions of tools like PowerPoint and Google Slides or Prezi, Quizziz, Quizlet, Thinglink, Adobe Express, and more. Think Canva but with 1000 templates for more interactive learning activities specifically for education.
June
ChatGPT: Risks, Challenges, and the Future
by Susan Gaer
Many people think that AI (Artificial Intelligence) is new, but translation services, speech recognition, personalized learning with language learning apps, and grammar/spelling checkers are all forms of AI that we have become accustomed to.
Spotlight On...
If you would like to revisit or access the TDLS 23 presentations on video, then they are ready to go on OTAN’s website. Topics including Canvas, Orientations, HyFlex, Adults with Disabilities, and Accessibility are just a few of the many choices.
- To view them, go first to the OTAN website linked here www.otan.us
- Select Video Presentations from the menu
- Choose the TDLS option from the dropdown menu
Professional Development Idea
These video presentations can be used as a faculty choice board for professional development. An administrator can choose 6 different video presentations from the menu either around a theme or randomly. Prior to the meeting, Staff members can choose one-of-the-six to watch and review. Sometime during the next staff meeting, the administrator facilitates small group collaboration for staff to share a verbal review. These reviews can be charted for others to reference.
For more on choice boards:
Choice Boards: Made for Adult Education written by Debbie Jensen, OTAN SME
Remote Learning Templates presented by Stacey Campo, Education to Career Network
Clear your calendars for TDLS2024, March 1 and 2, 2024, at the Fremont Adult and Continuing Education, 4700 Calaveras Avenue, Fremont, CA. More information to follow soon about Presenter Proposals and Registration.
OTAN August and September Events
| Date/Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, August 04 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM |
Ramp Up Safety and Security! | |
| Tuesday, August 08 08:30 AM - 11:30 AM |
Canvas: Basics | |
| Tuesday, August 08 08:30 AM - 11:30 AM |
Canvas: Advanced and Beyond | |
| Thursday, August 10 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM |
Course Approval System Updates and Training | |
| Monday, August 14 08:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
Google - Customized! | |
| Wednesday, August 23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Canvas: Basics | |
| Thursday, August 24 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM |
HyFlex: Simultaneous Instruction | |
| Friday, August 25 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM |
Torrance: Canvas Administrator Training Overview | |
| Monday, August 28 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM |
Canvas Mini-Sessions | |
| Monday, August 28 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM |
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lunch Break | |
| Wednesday, August 30 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM |
Using an ESL App to Drive CASAS & TABE Growth | |
| Wednesday, September 06 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM |
Teach Digital Literacy and Work Life Skills With an App-Based Course | |
| Friday, September 08 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM |
BEST Course Orientation (Fall) | |
| Monday, September 11 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM |
Canvas Mini-Sessions | |
| Monday, September 25 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM |
Canvas Mini-Sessions | |
| Monday, September 25 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM |
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lunch Break |
OTAN training events are OPEN to Adult Education staff.
★ = CLOSED, In-Service Training
Professional Development - Plan Ahead!
Did you know OTAN provides FREE professional development workshops to help Adult Educators integrate technology?
Think about scheduling OTAN Professional Development in the 2023-2024 school year. With a wide variety of technology topics from which to choose, OTAN training staff can provide in-person workshops or presentations at any approved California adult education agency or professional development event, either online or face-to-face with a computer lab or devices connected to the Internet.
All OTAN's workshops are provided at no cost!
Each session is hands-on - everyone will learn new skills related to technology or using technology that they can use in their adult education class or program. And all OTAN online or face-to-face workshops can be tailored to fit the needs of the requesting program. Select the links to see a list of the current online or face-to-face workshops and descriptions. If you don't see a workshop that is exactly what you need, contact OTAN - we'll work together to create a training that's best for you and your staff!
Need more information? Contact OTAN training staff anytime by phone at (916) 228-2580, or by email at support@otan.us.
To view workshops already scheduled, visit the California Adult Education Professional Development Calendar and search for workshops sponsored by OTAN. Don't miss out!