OTAN Digest - April 2025
Digest #50
April 2025
Spotlight On...
Neda Anasseri, Keynote Speaker Leticia Citizen, Long Beach AS Principal, Nicole Lopez & Anthony Burik kicked off TDLS2025.
Long Beach Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Tiffany Brown, addressed our audience with the message of “What if...”
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CTE: Student Global Competence Training
In the age of AI, students urgently need access to computer science
OTAN Canvas Regional Summit
OTAN Canvas Regional Summit Registration Link May 9th, 8:00-4:30 in partnership with CAERC. More information.
Registration Open for 2025 High School Equivalency and Proficiency Summer Convenings!
Mark your calendars and spread the word! You are invited to the 2025 High School Equivalency and Proficiency Summer Convenings.
The California Department of Education invites chief examiners, test site administrators, school counselors, and others with a connection to high school equivalency (HSE) and Proficiency exams to the in-person 2025 HSE and Proficiency Summer Convenings. These convenings are designed to provide timely updates and to collect valuable feedback regarding the HSE and proficiency exams. Registration is free.
More information and registration are available on the 2025 High School Equivalency and Proficiency webpage.
Locations Include: Sacramento, Alameda, Monterey, Fresno, Orange, Los Angeles, Jurupa and San Diego. Dates can be found on the attached flyer.
Please forward this invitation on to anyone that may benefit from attending.
I am available for contact should you need any additional information.
Thank you and hope to see you there!
For additional information, contact Melissa Stockbridge by email at mstockbridge@scoe.net.
Monthly, SMEs write an article about technology and how it correlates with teaching and learning. These articles become companions of each OTAN Tech Talk. While OTAN welcomes an article or Tech Talk from any adult educator in California, our SMEs without fail consistently write about the most innovative ideas for adult education classrooms.
April
Ways to Engage Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for All Learners
By Elisia Doonan, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
This article explores the importance of engaging socially and emotionally for all learners with a focus on SEL lessons threaded into adult education. In my experience with working with learners, the most important lesson learned was self-confidence and self-esteem.
March
Google Sheets: Clear Visuals for Tracking Student Success
By Christina Hyatt, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
Using Google Sheets in a shared drive helps teachers and staff track student progress quickly and easily. It combines relevant student data in one place, including work completed, CASAS scores, and graduation progress. Before Google Sheets, student progress was paper-based and stored in the classroom. Now, staff can view and update information online, anytime, from anywhere.
February
The Wallet Citizenship Interview
By Jennifer Gagliardi, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
What do you grab before you leave the house? Keys, glasses, phone, and a wallet. These essential tools not only unlock doors, start cars, and enable us to see the road ahead, they mark civic rights, obligations, and responsibilities.
Administrative Professionals’ Day
Appreciation for the good work happening each day by our Administrative Professionals need not happen once a year. However, the official date for this year’s marked “appreciation” is April 23, 2025. We couldn’t make it without the wonderful people who support our Adult Education Division here at Sacramento County Office of Education. A big thank you to (left to right) Wendy Exabe, OTAN, Patricia Black, CAERC, Diana Volosenco, OTAN & Holly Clark (CAEP).
Message from the Director
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the early signs of spring! I’ve been enjoying getting out for some hikes in the local foothills while the temperatures are cool enough to do so. Spring is also the time when we get to start thinking of what our adult school offerings will be for the next program year. OTAN works closely with the California Department of Education (CDE) to ensure that the Course Approvals on the Online Application and Reporting (OAR) website are ready to go.
All K-12 and County Office of Education adult schools/consortium members are expected to maintain access and submit annually to the Course Approvals system. An exemption for a non-instruction option is available. California school districts providing adult education must have their course outlines approved by their local board, and on record with the CDE Adult Education Office (California Education Code Sections 52506 and 51056). Community colleges have separate approval processes.
The Course Approvals for 2025-26 go live on April 1. The CDE has established Course Approvals as one of the key deliverables for adult schools and they are due by June 15 for the next program year. As agencies add courses throughout the year, as they often do, the Course Approvals Coordinator must use the Course Approvals system to submit these additional courses for approval. Course Approvals are submitted at least annually with additional submissions added when new courses are established, but no later than March 31.
A course outline is recommended but not required before requesting approval of courses. However, all course outlines are reviewed by the CDE during a Federal Program Monitoring visit. OTAN is developing a Course Outline Builder that is expected to be available for the 2026-27 program year. Until then, we recommend referencing the Course Approvals Procedures document on the OAR site for guidance.
If you believe you should have access to Course Approvals and currently don’t, start by asking your site’s OAR Administrator. Your assigned Education Programs Consultant can also help with access.
OTAN is one of California’s State Leadership Projects for adult education. We have a wealth of resources and services available at no cost to agencies. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at support@otan.us.
-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education
OTAN April and May Events
| Date/Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, April 2 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Collaboration and Content Management using Google Workspace ★ | This session is an inservice for Pittsburg Adult Education staff only. |
| Wednesday, April 2 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM |
Collaboration and Content Management using Google Workspace ★ | This session is an inservice for Pittsburg Adult Education staff only. |
| Thursday, April 3 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM |
Canvas Studio Updates | OTAN Online |
| Monday, April 7 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM |
Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) Office Hours | OTAN Online |
| Monday, April 7 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM |
Canvas Discussions | OTAN Online |
| Tuesday, April 8 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
Personalizing Canvas for Adult Learners | OTAN Online |
| Friday, April 11 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Using AI in AE - Inservice for Santa Rosa Junior College ★ | This session is an inservice for Santa Rosa Junior College staff only. |
| Friday, April 11 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Social Media Magic: Design like a PRO with Canva! ★ | This session is an inservice for Victor Valley AE Regional Consortium staff only. |
| Monday, April 14 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM |
Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) Office Hours | OTAN Online |
| Monday, April 14 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM |
Canvas AI Translation Feature | OTAN |
| Tuesday, April 15 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
Accessibility Tools in Canvas | OTAN Online |
| Monday, April 21 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM |
Canvas Enhanced Rubrics | OTAN Online |
| Wednesday, April 23 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM |
Canvas Lucidchart and LucidSpark | OTAN Online |
| Thursday, April 24 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM |
Canvas ePortfolios for CTE | OTAN Online |
| Friday, April 25 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM |
AI & Tech Tools Revolution: Transforming ESL Instruction for Immediate Impact Part II | This session is an inservice for Santa Ana College staff only. |
| Monday, April 28 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM |
Canvas Khanmigo Teacher Tools | OTAN Online |
| Wednesday, April 30 12:30 PM - 02:30 PM |
Leveraging Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools for Activities and Materials Creation | This session is an inservice for Glendale Community College staff only. |
| Wednesday, April 30 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM |
Canvas Studio Updates | OTAN Online |
| Wednesday, April 30 03:30 PM - 05:30 PM |
Leveraging Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools for Activities and Materials Creation | This session is an inservice for Glendale Community College staff only. |
| Tuesday, May 6 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
Mastering Rubrics in Canvas | OTAN Online |
| Wednesday, May 7 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM |
Canvas ePortfolios for CTE | OTAN Online |
| Friday, May 9 08:00 AM - 04:30 PM |
OTAN Canvas Regional Summit ★ | Sacramento County Office of Education |
| Monday, May 12 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM |
Canvas Discussions | OTAN Online |
| Tuesday, May 13 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
Aligning and Tracking Outcomes in Canvas | OTAN Online |
| Tuesday, May 20 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM |
Canvas Rich Content Editor - AI Tool | OTAN Online |
| Friday, May 23 09:00 AM - 11:10 AM |
Microsoft and Canvas Accessibility for North Orange Continuing Education | This session is an inservice for North Orange Continuing Education staff only. |
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 2024-2025 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!