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

OTAN Digest - January 2023

Digest #23
January 2023

Message from the Director

Happy New Year!! Our team at OTAN has so many exciting things planned for you in 2023 and encourage you to join in on the fun.

  • Registration for the hybrid Technology and Distance Learning Symposium (TDLS) is now open! Participants are welcome to engage with us in-person or virtually. Don't miss out on the new Thursday Bootcamps – dive a bit deeper into Canvas, Google, or Microsoft 365.

  • The Students Succeed nominations opened January 2nd and will be open until April 1st. Adult Education staff are encouraged nominate a student who has experienced success because of participating in adult education.

  • OTAN is working with vendors to offer curriculum pilots to the field. Supplement your classroom curriculum with Learning Upgrade, a Math, ESL/English, and Digital Skills App for everyone! The App has 1020 lessons and 22 courses to extend learning! In a separate offer, test the computer skills of your students with Northstar Digital Literacy, a widely recognized assessment offered by Literacy Minnesota. Look for additional offers from Newsela  and others! If you are interested in learning more about and possibly participating in any of these curriculum pilots, please complete this OTAN Curriculum Offers Interest Form.

  • Jump on board with Canvas and commit to bringing the #1 Learning Management to your site! 100% of our California community colleges and higher education systems are using Canvas and our list of committed K-12 Adult School agencies is growing. Complete the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize your commitment! Email questions and completed MOUs to aecanvas@scoe.net.

  • OTAN is working with ISTE and advisors to develop a Facilitator's Guide and optionally facilitated or self-paced course to engage with the California Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance that was published in September 2022. The new resources will be available in Summer 2023! Also, look for an updated look to the Guidance website to be released in January 2023.

  • OTAN wants to work with you on custom professional development for your team. Training can be in-person or virtual. Dates are filling quickly so don't hesitate too long to reach out to OTAN at support@otan.us.

I look forward to connecting with each of you and hearing what wonderful things you have planned at your agency this year. Until then, stay true to your resolutions and Happy New Year!

Renee Collins
-Renee Collins
Director, Adult Education

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

January

5 Tech Tools to Try With Adult Learners
by Yescenia Delgado Lorenzo

Try these five tech tools and notice adult learner engagement increase.

December

5 Tips for Engaging All Learners with Digital Literacy
by Elisia Doonan

Many educators are exploring new ways to engage learners online. Engagement for Adults with Disabilities can be especially challenging due to a lack of professional support for educators.

November

Survey, Quiz, and Schedule Appointments Skillfully with Google Forms
by Cindy Wislofsky

It's time to review what you know already about Google Forms and move forward learning and practicing some newer features to make your work life more efficient and productive.

Spotlight On...

OTAN's Technology and Distance Learning Symposium (TDLS)

Cherina Betters

This year's upcoming TDLS's Keynote Speach will feature Dr. Cherina Betters, who has always viewed education as the "means to overcome" and holds a deep appreciation for the educational process. Dr. Betters is committed to advocating for students and educational excellence through equity.

Cherina Betters is the Chief of Equity and Access for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. A lifelong learner, she has served in the field of K-12 education for 18 years in the capacity of teacher and administrator serving the students, families, and communities of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in Southern California.

TDLS 2023 Registration is coming soon!

OTAN January and February Events

Date/Time Event Location
Tue, Jan 3
10:45 AM - 1:45 PM
Google Drive and Docs Pittsburg Adult Education
Pittsburg, CA
Tue, Jan 3
12 :00 PM - 1:30 PM
OTAN Special Canvas Session - Admin Account Fundamentals Online - Zoom
Tue, Jan 3
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Google Drive and Docs Pittsburg Adult Education
Pittsburg, CA
Wed, Jan 4
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Local Board Review of WIOA, Title II: AEFLA PY 23-27 Applications Online - Zoom
Mon, Jan 9
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
OTAN Presentation: The CA Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance East Side Adult Education
Online - Zoom
Tue, Jan 10
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
OTAN Special Canvas Session - Admin Reports & Analytics Online - Zoom
Thu, Jan 12
12:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Advancing Canvas Skills: MS Office and Google Integration Online - Zoom
Fri, Jan 13
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
OTAN Tech Talk - Five Tech Tools for Accelerated Learning Online - Zoom
Tue, Jan 17
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
OTAN Special Canvas Session - Admin SIS Imports Online - Zoom
Wed, Jan 18
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Advancing Canvas Skills: Group Work and Collaboration Online - Zoom
Fri, Jan 20
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Basics of Using Microsoft Excel in Adult Education Mt. Diablo Adult Education
Concord, CA
Wed, Jan 25
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
OTAN Special Canvas Session - Admin Review and Troubleshooting Online - Zoom
Thu, Jan 26
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Advancing Canvas Skills: Outcomes and Learning Mastery Online - Zoom
Thu, Jan 26
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Apps to Use in the AE Classroom College of the Desert
Palm Desert, CA
Thu, Feb 2
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Canvas Q&A with a Canvas Expert - For Teachers Online - Zoom
Tue, Feb 7
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Advancing Canvas Skills: Studio Online - Zoom
Thu, Feb 9
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Advancing Canvas Skills: Accessibility (A11y) Online - Zoom
Tue, Feb 14
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Advancing Canvas Skills: Creating Mastery Paths Online - Zoom
Thu, Feb 16
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CANVAS Q&A with a Canvas Expert - For Administrators 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 2022-2023 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!

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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.