OTAN Digest

Digest #12
January 2022

Message From The Director

Happy New Year! As one year closes and another begins, let's take time to reflect on where we've been and where we're going.

Despite an ongoing pandemic, economic challenges, racial tensions, and continuing uncertainty about what the new year would hold, 2021 afforded our OTAN team many opportunities to connect with our adult education colleagues around our new mission to lead adult education through support for and the effective application of technology. While you were innovating at the school site level, we were doing the same at OTAN. We're especially proud of our ability to move our training 100% online and to build a conference platform that allowed over 800 of our members to participate in the 2021 Technology and Distance Learning Symposium. OTAN was also able to train and support our WIOA II, AEFLA programs through a successful initial year of the Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP).

Looking forward to 2022, we plan to build on the momentum of 2021. From the new Technology Integration Program Support (TIPS) course starting in mid-January to the expansion of our California Distance Learning Cooperative and Canvas to the development of statewide guidance on digital learning, there are learning opportunities to engage you at every turn! Be sure to follow us on social media to stay connected!

-Renee Collins

Spotlight On...

OTAN Social Media!

In addition to having an OTAN account and receiving periodic emails and communications from OTAN, one of the best ways to stay connected to OTAN throughout the school year is to subscribe to our social media. We are increasing our social media presence via four sites. Please consider subscribing to one or more of our social media sites to stay connected:

• Twitter: twitter.com/otan or @OTAN
• Facebook: facebook.com/otanservesadulteducation or @otanservesadulteducation
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/otan_2
• YouTube: youtube.com/otanservesadulteducation

You can also connect to our social media from the OTAN website. Click on the Stay Connected menu at the top of the otan.us website and select Social Media, or look for the social media icons in the bottom footer of the homepage.

Social media is a great way to learn more about what OTAN is working on and contribute to your own professional development. Please subscribe to our sites and add your voice to social media conversations with your fellow adult education colleagues.

Stay connected to OTAN! We look forward to hearing from you online!

OTAN January And February Events

OTAN training events are OPEN to Adult Education staff.
★ = CLOSED, In-Service Training

Professional Development

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!

• OTAN Face-to-Face Workshops (which can be tailored for the virtual environment!)
• OTAN Online Workshops

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!