OTAN Digest - October 2025
Digest #56
October 2025
Spotlight On...
OTAN’s Self-Paced Courses: Professional Development on Your Schedule
With WIOA funding challenges creating uncertainty for many agencies, access to high-quality professional development is more critical than ever. OTAN is here to help with flexible, high-impact learning opportunities that keep educators engaged and supported. In addition to our live webinars, we also offer self-paced online courses in Canvas, available anytime, at your own pace, with feedback from OTAN staff.
Currently Offered Self-Paced Courses
- Digital Learning Guidance: Harnessing the Power of Online Education - Explore strategies, tools, and best practices for creating engaging, effective digital learning environments.
- Mastering Technology Integration with the Triple E Framework - Offered as both self-paced and live webinar formats, this course helps you evaluate and improve technology use for engagement, enhancement, and extension of learning.
💡 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through Sacramento State are available for some courses. Reach out to OTAN for more info!
Coming Soon
- HyFlex Teaching: Strategies for engaging learners both in person and online simultaneously.
- Accessibility Support: Practical approaches to designing inclusive learning experiences for all students.
Why It Matters Now
Whether you thrive in the interactive environment of a live webinar or prefer the flexibility of self-paced learning, OTAN’s courses are built to fit your schedule, goals, and teaching style. Explore all PD opportunities today at OTAN.us.
Back to School Series:
Create (or Update) Your OTAN Account
OTAN Teaching Tools and Resources
OTAN News Items and Social Media
Other News:
Building Bridges Between Generations in the Workforce
Report on Technology and Digital Learning for California Adult Education Now Available
Free Teaching Resources to Explore from CrowdED Learning
Report on Technology and Digital Learning Now Available
OTAN has submitted its Technology and Digital Learning for California Adult Education 2023–2024 report to the California Department of Education. The report provides a snapshot of how adult education agencies are serving students through technology, including distance learning enrollment, access and use of technology, teacher integration practices, barriers, and successful strategies. It also offers recommendations and areas for future research to strengthen adult education across the state.
Read the full report here: Technology and Digital Learning for California Adult Education 2023–2024
Call for “Voices from the Field” Stories
As we finalize the 2025 update to the California Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance (DLG), OTAN is collecting real-world stories from local programs. These short examples, featured throughout the updated DLG, highlight how providers are using digital tools, staffing strategies, and learner supports to strengthen digital learning.
Being featured can be a helpful way to spotlight your program’s work and share it with a broader audience.
🔗 You can view the list of suggested topics and learn more about how to contribute here: California Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance: Voices from the Field Request
Submissions are due by October 10. Small wins and lessons learned are welcome.
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.
October
Don’t Be unCommon and Start Using Canvas Commons!
By Francisco X. Pinedo, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
Are you an Adult Education instructor struggling to create digital courses for your students? If you answered yes, then this article will help you create digital content that you and your students will enjoy!
September
Padlet TA: Your AI-Powered Teaching Assistant for Effortless Classroom Preparation
By Alisa Takeuchi, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
Padlet TA is an innovative, web-based AI assistant created by the makers of Padlet, designed to reduce teacher prep time and allow educators to concentrate on student interaction and instruction.
August
AI Powered Tutor and Teacher Tools added to CK-12's Free Digital Resources
By Debbie Jensen, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
CK-12’s Flexi was introduced to be that tutor—and answer questions 24/7. Then AI entered the world stage. Immediately CK-12 worked to add AI to Flexi. And what resulted is more than an online tutor.
Congratulations to Neda Anasseri on Her New Role
In September, we celebrated OTAN Coordinator Neda Anasseri as she began a new position as Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Statewide System of Support with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) Many of you know her from trainings, conferences, and her strong advocacy for the Adult Education field. At OTAN, she has coordinated the work of our Subject Matter Experts and led the two-year Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC).
We are excited to share that Neda will continue to support OTAN as a Subject Matter Expert, helping guide DLAC and strengthening leadership in adult education. Congratulations, Neda, on this new chapter - we look forward to continuing to work with you!
Message from the Director
For October’s OTAN Digest, I want to shine a spotlight on two exciting updates: the return of our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and a newly released resource from the CREATE Skills Network that can support your work in adult education.
First, our SMEs are back in action! As many of you know, the temporary impoundment of federal funds in July, and the potential loss of adult education funding, required OTAN to scale back services during the first quarter of this program year. This included pausing the return of our SMEs, who play a critical role in supporting professional development and technology integration across the state.
We’re thrilled to share that, as of early October, our SMEs are once again available to support you with both in-person and virtual training. Their expertise covers a wide range of areas, including the Digital Leadership Academy, OTAN Canvas, web-based class activities, lessons that integrate technology, and, of course, our popular Technology and Digital Learning Symposium. We’re excited to be back on the ground with you, offering hands-on support and guidance to strengthen your programs.
Alongside this good news, OTAN continues to be an active partner in the CREATE Skills Network, now in its fifth year. The Network brings together educators, researchers, and partners to develop, test, and share technology-supported strategies that enhance adult foundational skills and boost academic success.
In September, the Network released a valuable new article, “Supporting Effective Research in Adult Foundational Education,” by Lisa Soricone, Ed.D., Lead Author. Drawing from surveys and interviews with CREATE research teams, the article offers practical insights into the context of Adult Foundational Education (AFE) to strengthen conversations between researchers, program staff, and students. It’s a helpful resource for anyone looking to bridge practice and research in meaningful ways.
Bookmark the CREATE Skills Network and check back often for new national resources—and, as always, stay connected with OTAN for the latest tools, research, and professional development opportunities.
-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education
OTAN October and November Events
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 2025-2026 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!