OTAN Digest April 2026
Spotlight On...
TDLS 2026
Sun, Tech, and Play in Monterey
We’re still glowing from our time at TDLS last month! Between the stunning Monterey weather and the energy of our educator community (both in-person and online) it was a weekend to remember.
We spent our days exploring educational technology, from hands-on gadgetry in the Tech Playground to moments of reflection in Monterey Adult School’s beautiful learning garden. Our keynote speaker, Roni Habib, gave us the perfect guiding message for the event: a reminder to bring playfulness back into our work. Whether we were diving into new tech or rethinking our pedagogical approaches, the spirit of exploration was everywhere.
A huge thank you to Monterey Adult School for being such gracious hosts.
We’re already counting down the days until next year! Mark your calendars: We’ll see you March 5–6, 2027, at Torrance Adult School.
2025 Digital Learning Guidance Update
Stronger Starts: Free Parenting Support & Coaching for Your Students
Designing Better AI Prompts for Student-Centered Learning
Beyond the Password: Why Navigating 2FA is an Important Digital Literacy Skill
New Federal Workforce Strategy Signals Shifts: What California Adult Ed Providers Need to Know
Student Success Story
Yaphet Hightower’s journey is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to rewrite your story. After years of battling addiction and homelessness, at one point sleeping outside a local appliance store, Yaphet arrived at Visalia Adult School with a singular goal: change.
His path wasn’t easy. Yaphet worked factory night shifts, biking straight from work to daytime classes while simultaneously managing a serious heart condition. His internal motor and motto, “Life is what you make it,” kept him moving forward.
Today, Yaphet’s transformation is complete! Academic Success: He officially earned his High School Equivalency in May 2025 and received a student award. Personal Milestones: He is clean and sober, has completed an 11-year probation sentence, and has secured stable housing. Full Circle: In an emotional moment, the same business Yaphet once slept in front of helped provide a refrigerator for his new home.
After graduating, Yaphet accepted a new career opportunity in Alaska and plans to eventually study Business in college. His grit and growth mindset have made him an inspiration to students and staff alike.
Kick Off CCAE State with OTAN: Pre-Conference Workshops
Going to CCAE State (April 30–May 2)? So is OTAN!
In addition to our many sessions during the main event, we are offering two pre-conference workshops on Thursday, April 30.
Why join a pre-conference session?
- Deep Dive: 5 hours of focused, expert-led professional development.
- Intimate Learning: Strictly limited to 25 participants per room.
- All-Inclusive: Your registration includes a catered lunch.
Please note: These sessions require additional registration and a separate fee.
OTAN Satisfaction Survey
OTAN would like to invite you to participate in our new Satisfaction Survey to help us improve our services in the following areas:
- Trainings and Presentations
- Website Resources
- Curriculum Offers
- Digital Learning Guidance
- Canvas
- and additional OTAN services
Take some time to complete this survey as soon as you have a chance. This survey should not take more than 20-30 minutes of your time.
As with all OTAN surveys, the results will be kept completely anonymous. OTAN has no way to trace individual results back to specific participants.
You can find the survey here: Survey Link
Thank you for your time and your feedback!
Monthly, SMEs write an article about technology and how it correlates with teaching and learning. These articles become companions of each OTAN Tech Talk. Have something to share? OTAN welcomes an article or Tech Talk from any adult educator in California.
April
Effective HyFlex Teaching Strategies for Adult Education
By Audrey Dierdorff, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
In the evolving landscape of adult education, the HyFlex (Hybrid-Flexible) model has emerged as a powerful instructional approach to meet the diverse needs of learners. By combining face-to-face and online learning, HyFlex empowers students to choose their mode of attendance—whether in-person, online synchronously, or online asynchronously—for each class session. For educators, the challenge lies in adapting curriculum and lesson plans to ensure that every student, regardless of their location, has equivalent access to high-quality instruction and learning outcomes.
March
Building Community: Working Together in Education with SharePoint
By Chris Vela Che, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
As educators of multilingual adult learners, staying informed about the issues that shape our students’ daily lives is a shared responsibility to better serve and support them. Recent immigration policy changes have directly and indirectly affected many of our most vulnerable students in continuing education programs, making it clear that creating a safe and welcoming classroom environment—while essential—is no longer sufficient to ensure student retention and success. Educators play an active role in supporting students by sharing timely school- and community-based information and resources.
February
Canvas Mastery Paths: Differentiating Is Grating! (Uh, I Mean Great!)
By Josh Eick, OTAN Subject Matter Expert
Have you ever experienced the following? You have a lesson that you spent hours prepping, and when you present the activity to your class, some students struggle with the material and don’t finish in the allotted time, others do fine, and yet others sail through the material in no time and sit bored waiting for the next activity? Of course you have. Have you ever stopped to think about why this happens?
Seeking Pilot Teachers for CILIA-T
Are you looking for a way to integrate civics, digital skills, and English proficiency? We are seeking teachers to pilot CILIA-T (Content Integrated Language Instruction for Adults with Technology Support) this spring.
This 16-module, open-access curriculum blends U.S. history and civics with academic English and digital literacy. Designed for flexibility, it can be taught in person, online, or in a hybrid format.
Best suited for:
- Intermediate-Advanced ESL classes
- GED prep and basic literacy skills
- Civics and citizenship classes
Get Involved:
- Explore: Curriculum Website | View Modules | Info Slides
- Join the Pilot: Sign up here
Voices from the Field
How does your program identify which students have access to devices and reliable internet, and how do you keep that information up to date throughout their enrollment?
“At the beginning of each student’s journey at our school, students complete the Technology Intake Survey. Afterward, instructors ask whether they have internet access at home (beyond a mobile data plan) and if they have a secondary device such as a tablet, Chromebook, laptop, or desktop computer.
For students who need a device, we refer them to Loaves, Fishes, and Computers, a local nonprofit organization in Monterey County. Students can receive low-cost or free devices by attending a six-week digital skills class offered at the LFC headquarters or at partnering adult schools in our consortium.
Within the Salinas Valley Adult Education Consortium, data show that 65 percent of adults in our region have never used a computer, 75 percent do not have one at home, and 55 percent of children complete homework on a parent’s cell phone. LFC also sells refurbished equipment at affordable prices for families.
In classrooms, we post flyers for Human-I-T (internet access) and Loaves, Fishes, and Computers (devices and training). At the end of each semester, we survey students to see whether they accessed these services and what support they received.” - Francisco Xavier Pinedo Jr | Director | Soledad Adult School
Read more about ensuring equity and access in Chapter 2 of the updated Digital Learning Guidance!
Message from the Director
Participants consistently describe OTAN’s Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC) as a “game-changer in the professional development arena” and emphasize that the training and support are “invaluable” for helping agencies reach their technology goals while building leadership, collaboration, and innovation.
If you’re looking for high-quality, technology-focused team development, I encourage you to explore OTAN’s signature, two-year professional learning experience designed for adult education leaders, instructional staff, and support personnel who are ready to become leaders in digital instruction and program implementation at their agencies. Through a collaborative process with school teams, OTAN training staff, and experienced technology and leadership coaches, DLAC provides a cohesive, sustained approach to developing digital leadership capacity across programs.
Applications open April 1 for Cohort 6 of the Digital Leadership Academy. DLAC is intended to be flexible, allowing agencies to use OTAN resources in ways that best support their technology goals. DLAC projects align closely with agencies’ continuous improvement plan efforts.
Teams of 2–3 individuals from each agency should:
• Include a mix of teachers, coordinators, and/or administrators
• Represent individuals who can help move agency goals forward
• Commit to the full two-year DLAC experience
• Be ready to learn, grow, and strengthen leadership skills
• Be willing to share strategies, experiences, and new technology practices
Apply early—DLAC cohorts are limited to 30 participants to ensure strong matches between agencies, coaches, and goals.
I hope you’ll consider joining this incredible learning community. And as always, we’re here to support your ed tech, digital, and blended learning needs—don’t hesitate to reach out to support@otan.us to request a no-cost training for your staff.
-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education
OTAN March and April Events
| Date/Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, March 27 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM |
When AI Helps You Write: Smarter Goals, Better Plans | OTAN Online |
| Friday, March 27 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM |
OTAN Tech Talk March 2026: Building Community: Working Together in Education with SharePoint | OTAN Online |
| Monday, March 30 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM |
AI assisted Storytelling Projects for Students in All Programs ★ | This session is a closed inservice for Sierra College staff. |
| Monday, April 6 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Gemini for Educators: Saving Time with Integrated AI Tools - Inservice for Fremont Adult and Continuing Education ★ | This is a closed inservice for Fremont Adult and Continuing Education |
| Monday, April 6 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM |
Gemini for Educators: Saving Time with Integrated AI Tools - Inservice for Fremont Adult and Continuing Education ★ | This is a closed inservice for Fremont Adult and Continuing Education |
| Tuesday, April 7 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM |
Using AI with Students | OTAN Online |
| Thursday, April 9 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM |
Top Canva Tips and Tricks | OTAN Online |
| Friday, April 10 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM |
Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) Office Hours | OTAN Online |
| Friday, April 10 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM |
OTAN Tech Talk April 2026: Effective HyFlex Teaching Strategies for Adult Education | OTAN Online |
| Saturday, April 11 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
Purposeful Assignments: Designing Canvas Tasks for Adult Learners | OTAN Online |
| Tuesday, April 14 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM |
Microsoft Word® Mail Merge | OTAN Online |
| Tuesday, April 21 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM |
Curious about Google’s new NotebookLM but not sure where to start? | OTAN Online |
| Thursday, April 23 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM |
Putting English to Work in Canvas | OTAN Online |
| Thursday, April 23 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM |
Northstar Digital Literacy User Group | OTAN Online |
| Friday, April 24 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM |
Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) Office Hours | OTAN Online |
| Saturday, April 25 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
Custom Canvas: Designing with the Adult Learner in Mind | OTAN Online |
| Wednesday, April 29 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM |
Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) Office Hours | OTAN Online |
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!