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Leading adult education through support for and the effective application of technology.

OTAN Digest

Digest #8
September 2021

Message From The Director

Why does the flag have 50 stars? What is the economic system in the U.S.? How many justices are on the Supreme Court? As students in our Citizenship classes prepare for U.S. naturalization, these are just a few of the questions they must be prepared to answer in their oral interview. On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution. In memory of this event, the U.S. annually celebrates September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Whether you are teaching a group of aspiring citizens or have a classroom full of citizens, take time this month to tap into some of the USCIS resources available to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and what it means to be a U.S. citizen. How might you use the following USCIS resources in your remote, hybrid, or in-person courses? Be creative! https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/study-for-the-test

September also happens to be when we celebrate National Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week from September 19-25. Commit to sharing success stories of Adult Ed students in your classes during the week. Find videos and written success stories on OTAN's Students Succeed website.

Think of OTAN as your one-stop-shop for technology-based resources and support. Reach out to us to learn how we can help with your training needs. Email us at support@otan.us. Have a wonderful month!

-Renee Collins

Teaching With Technology banner

Are you looking for a way to integrate technology in your classes? Visit Teaching with Technology on the OTAN website and start searching for ESL, ABE, ASE, and even CTE lesson ideas today!

Web-Based Class Activities

September

New! Improved! Teaching with Technology (TwT) Database Updated for Usefulness and with a Focus on High-Quality Instruction
by Kristi Reyes

Now, after more than 1,300 entries, TwT is being transformed into a more user-friendly resource.

August

Choice Boards: Made for Adult Education
by Debbie Jensen

K-12 has embraced Choice Boards in their classrooms for over ten years, but if you missed the opportunity, here it is for Adult Education. It is as if Choice Boards were designed with adult learners in mind.

July

Interactive Images and Virtual Reality Using Thinglink
by Susan Gaer

You may have seen photos of users with high-tech virtual reality goggles tuned out to the world and wonder what type of experiences can be had. By definition, users are immersed in a 3D world and virtual reality places the user inside the experience as opposed to just viewing it. With Thinglink, you can easily recreate these experiences for students who will view them using a simple cardboard VR device.

Spotlight On...

Back-to-School!

The start of the new school year is a great time to remind our colleagues about the resources and services that OTAN provides to the adult education field. Take a look at our back-to-school series of news items to learn more about how we support the effective application of technology in adult education classrooms:

If you have any questions or need more information about any of these OTAN items, please don't hesitate to reach out to us – email us at support@otan.us or call us at 916-228-2580. We are here to support you at the start of and throughout the school year!

OTAN AUGUST EVENTS

Date/Time Event Location
Fri, Sep 3
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Fri, Sep 10
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Fri, Sep 10
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
OTAN Tech Talks - Assessing with Google Forms and Your LMS Online - Zoom
Mon, Sep 13
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Thu, Sep 16
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
LMS: Canvas Admin Q&A Online - Zoom
Fri, Sep 17
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Mon, Sep 20
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Device/OS: Chromebooks for Adult Education Online - Zoom
Mon, Sep 20
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Fri, Sep 24
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Google: Customized Workshop Online - Zoom
Fri, Sep 24
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Mon, Sep 27
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Fri, Oct 1
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Fri, Oct 1
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
A11y: Creating Accessible Documents Online - Zoom
Mon, Oct 4
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Fri, Oct 8
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Mon, Oct 11
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Fri, Oct 15
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Mon, Oct 18
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Thu, Oct 21
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
LMS: Canvas Admin Q&A Online - Zoom
Fri, Oct 22
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Mon, Oct 25
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom
Fri, Oct 29
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OTAN Office Hours Online - Zoom

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 2021-2022 school year. With a wide variety of technology topics from which to choose, OTAN training staff will present for any WIOA-funded adult education program in California either online or face-to-face with a computer lab or devices connected to the Internet. (Note that face-to-face trainings will be scheduled when it is safe and OTAN staff are free to travel.)

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!

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OTAN activities are funded by contract CN220124 from the Adult Education Office, in the Career & College Transition Division, California Department of Education, with funds provided through Federal P.L., 105-220, Section 223. However, OTAN content does not necessarily reflect the position of that department or the U.S. Department of Education.