2021 News
What's Here?
Catch up on recent, and past OTAN News.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 10/25
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Celebrate Digital Citizenship Week 2021
October 18 to 22 is Digital Citizenship Week. Although the focus this week is on K-12 students and schools, this week presents many opportunities to think about how we should all be good digital citizens and how to encourage good online behavior when interacting with others, now and throughout the school year.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 10/18
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Learn More About the Digital Resilience in the American Workforce Initiative
Digital Resilience in the American Workforce (DRAW) is a new initiative from JFF (Jobs for the Future) and World Education, with support from The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), to better prepare adult education practitioners who support learners who struggle to fully engage in tasks that demand the use of digital technologies.
CALIFORNIA EDUCATORS: eAccessibility Course with David Berman
David Berman, a world-renowned expert and advisor on accessibility issues and solutions, is offering an online course for participants to better understand why and how to make learning materials accessible.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 10/11
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Some Benefits of Blended Learning
One of the silver linings of the last 18 months has been the opportunity for adult educators to get to know a wide variety of edtech tools that they might not have been familiar with before.
Digital Inclusion Week 2021 is Here!
Digital Inclusion Week is an annual event meant to bring attention to solutions addressing home internet access, personal devices, and local technology training and support programs, with the goal of closing the digital divide that exist in cities and local communities around the country.
Taking a Look at the Top Tools for Learning 2021
Since 2007, Jane Hart from the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies in the UK has been compiling an annual list of Top Tools for Learning from the results of an open survey.
Technology and Distance Learning Symposium 2022 Call for Proposals is Now Open!
Building on the success of our first ever virtual conference earlier this year, TDLS will once again be virtual!
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 10/4
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 9/27
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 9/20
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Celebrate Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2021
First proposed by the National Center for Literacy (NCL) in the early 2010s, the National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week this year is September 19 to 25.
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is September 17
Each year on September 17, we celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day to commemorate the signing of the US Constitution on September 17, 1787.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 9/13
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Join the Building an EdTech Strategy Toolkit Course
As we settle back into more consistent models for instruction and learning, the Building an EdTech Strategy Toolkit (or BEST) course is designed to walk instructors through a thoughtful process of designing strategic and sustainable instructional routines that leverage edtech and are centered around the factors that most impact their learners.
Our office will be closed on Monday September 6th in observance of Labor Day
Our office will be closed on Monday September 6th in observance of Labor Day.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 9/6
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
New Observation Tool Available to Evaluate Remote Instruction
Now that adult educators have been working remotely with students for over a year, we want to make sure that the instruction provided electronically is as good as how it is provided in a face-to-face setting.
USA Learns Now on Phones!
Have you and your learners ever wished that USA Learns worked better on phones?
Read About Our Adult Education Students Succeed Honorees!
Each year, the California Adult Education Students Succeed program recognizes the hard work that adult education students have completed in the pursuit of their personal, academic, and professional goals and aspirations.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 8/30
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Back-to-School Series: OTAN Video Presentations and YouTube Videos
This is the fifth and final in a series of news items that will provide information about essential features of OTAN for you to know as you and your colleagues begin the new school year.
Back-to-School Series: OTAN News Items and Social Media
This is the fourth in a series of news items that will provide information about essential features of OTAN for you to know as you and your colleagues begin the new school year.
Back-to-School Series: OTAN Teaching Tools and Resources
This is the third in a series of news items that will provide information about essential features of OTAN for you to know as you and your colleagues begin the new school year.
Back-to-School Series: Create (or Update) Your OTAN Account
This is the first in a series of news items that will provide information about essential features of OTAN for you to know as you and your colleagues begin the new school year.
Back-to-School Series: OTAN Trainings
This is the second in a series of news items that will provide information about essential features of OTAN for you to know as you and your colleagues begin the new school year.
Increasing Engagement and Student Persistence Through Distance- and Blended-Learning Models
You are invited to attend a webinar sponsored by COABE, Increasing Engagement and Student Persistence Through Distance- and Blended-Learning Models: What the Research Says and Which Practices Work, spotlighting the work of a number of California adult education agencies.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 8/23
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 8/16
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Consider Applying for the Ron Lee CATESOL Technology Award 2021
If you are an ESL teacher and a CATESOL member and have been using technology in innovative ways with your students, please consider applying for this award! The deadline to apply is September 1.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 8/9
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Federal Program Monitoring Adult Education Instrument - Live Q&A Coming Up
This interactive two-hour session on Monday, August 9 from 10:00am to 12:00pm provides participants with the opportunity to discuss topics covered in Part 1
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 8/2
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Moving Forward with Blended Learning
As we plan for a new school year, many adult educators are thinking about how to integrate blended learning.
Making Use of Free Virtual Labs
Virtual math and science labs filled an important hole left in the wake of shifting from in-person to online instruction during COVID.
WorldEd’s Remote ESOL Project
Since December 2020, a team at OTAN partner World Education, Inc. and some expert ESOL consultants have been investigating promising remote adult ESL (or ESOL) practices and program models.
Watch (or Re-watch) Our OTAN Recorded Presentations!
Over the last year or so, OTAN has hosted numerous online presentations on a wide variety of technology-related topics, and you can watch (or re-watch) those presentations on our YouTube channel.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 7/26
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 7/19
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 7/12
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 7/5
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Our Office Will Be Closed In Observance of Independence Day.
Our office will be closed on Monday, July 5th in observance of Independence Day.
Welcome to the California EL Civics Exchange!
In partnership with CASAS and with the support of the Adult Education Office at the California Department of Education, OTAN is proud to announce the official opening of the California EL Civics Exchange.
Sharing Our Equity Resources
One of the ways that we at OTAN have been addressing the topic of equity is by participating in trainings organized by our employer, the Sacramento County Office of Education, on a variety of equity-related topics.
Steps for Successful Blended Learning
We know that adult education agencies are thinking about how to maintain an online component in their instructional programs as we return to our brick-and-mortar classrooms. The last 15 months have shown that there are students who thrive in the online learning environment and appreciate having online learning as an option because it fits into their busy adult lives with work, family, and other commitments, as well as helping them overcome barriers to learning like securing childcare and transportation.
Exploring the World Through Virtual Field Trips
Virtual field trips bring the content in a variety of classes to life, giving students and teachers the opportunity to learn more about a location, science, history, art, and other subjects firsthand.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 6/28
OTAN provides resources for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Resources to Help Identify the Best EdTech
As schools continue planning for the return to in-person instruction and services, one thing that adult educators are considering is what technology makes the most sense to invest in, in light of one-time COVID-19 funding opportunities that are still available.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 6/21
OTAN schedules online webinars for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 6/14
OTAN schedules online webinars for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 6/7
OTAN schedules online webinars for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 5/31
OTAN schedules online webinars for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Our office will be closed in observance of Memorial Day
Our office will be closed in observance of Memorial Day
Voxy EnGen® Grants Available Through the Write Her Future Institute
In partnership with Lancôme USA, ProLiteracy is providing free access to Voxy EnGen®, a personalized, mobile English language learning platform. Through the Write Her Future Institute, adult education programs can apply for free one-year Voxy EnGen® licenses for female English language learners.
New Resource for Exploring Primary Sources
Many adult educators are familiar with the website iCivics for information and resources on citizenship and civics education. There is now a new mini-resource on the iCivics website called Exploring Primary Sources which serves as a resource hub for innovative primary source products, accessible professional development, and more.
Diving Deeper into the Digital Divide
For all of us in adult education, working online with our students and colleagues over the past year has been challenging in so many ways.
Congratulations to Our Adult Education Students Succeed Honorees!
Each year, the California Adult Education Students Succeed program recognizes the hard work that adult education students have completed in the pursuit of their personal, academic, and professional goals and aspirations. OTAN is happy to share the results from the many nominations submitted this year for recognition of the wonderful accomplishments by students during their time in adult education programs across the state.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 5/24
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 5/17
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Emergency Broadband Benefit Begins Today!
This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, virtual classrooms, critical healthcare services, and much more.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 5/10
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 5/3
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Introducing the Personal and Workplace Success Skills Library
The Personal and Workplace Success Skills Library is a collection of resources to guide the integration of personal and workplace success skills into curriculum and instruction, advising and coaching, assessment, and program design.
How to Approach Hybrid Teaching
One of the most important questions in the quest to reopen our adult education programs and welcome students, staff, and the community back into our physical spaces is what our classroom instruction is going to look like moving forward.
Using Technology to Improve Teaching
One possibility is using technology to review classroom teaching and provide instructional coaching, as well as thinking about how to integrate video into teacher professional development.
Getting Adult Educators Excited About Using Technology
Some teachers have fully embraced virtual teaching and learning, while others are still struggling and view the technology with anxiety, trepidation, and frustration.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 4/26
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Adult Schools Celebrate Adult Education Week!
During California Adult Education Week from April 19 to 23, adult schools across the state plan events to celebrate the work being done at their locations and the success of their adult students who have overcome difficulties to achieve their goals and dreams.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 4/19
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators - Week of 4/12
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators - Week of 4/5
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Adult Education Resources Now Available at CK-12
We're happy to announce that CK-12 has partnered with OTAN to make high quality content available on the CK-12 platform to support adult learning.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 3/29
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 3/22
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Emergency Broadband Benefit is Coming Soon!
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) recently announced the creation of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic.
Still Time to Nominate a Deserving Student for the Adult Education Students Succeed Program
The nomination period for the 2021 Adult Education Students Succeed Program is open.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 3/15
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 3/8
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 3/1
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 2/22
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Our office will be closed on Monday, February 22nd in observance of Washington's Birthday
Our office will be closed on Monday, February 22nd in observance of Washington's Birthday
Getting Creative with Video
Video is a powerful tool to use in the adult education classroom.
Add Asynchronous Video to Your Online Teaching Repertoire
Add Asynchronous Video to Your Online Teaching Repertoire
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 2/15
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Our office will be closed on Monday, February 15th in observance of Lincoln's Birthday
Our office will be closed on Monday, February 15th in observance of Lincoln's Birthday
Learn More About Digital Promise's Adult Learner Model
We know that our schools are full of students who are different from one another, who bring different experiences and abilities with them to class. However, in our efforts to reach all learners, we often fall short and end up only reaching a small number of students by teaching to the middle.
Keeping Everyone Safe on the Internet
February 9 is Safer Internet Day, a worldwide recognition of the need to actively safeguard children and adults when they spend time on the Internet.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 2/8
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
OTAN's Technology and Distance Learning Symposium Coming Soon!
Registration for OTAN's annual Technology and Distance Learning Symposium (TDLS), which will take place online from March 3 to 5, is open!
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 2/1
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Resources to Share on the COVID-19 Vaccine
As vaccinations roll out across California and the country, we encourage you to take a look at these Coronavirus Adult Literacy Resources from the Georgia State University College of Education and Human Development to share with your students, staff, and community members.
Learn More at the (Virtual) EL Civics Conference 2020-2021
Our colleagues at CASAS have taken the EL Civics Conference online this year!
Learn More About ISTE's SkillRise
According to the SkillRise website, SkillRise helps organizations empower adult learning with educational technology by providing resources that support the planning, implementation, and sustainability of edtech solutions to prepare workers for the careers of today and tomorrow.
Resources for the Continuous Improvement Plan
The California Department of Education (CDE) has integrated three previously separate deliverables required from Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) funded agencies into a new deliverable called the Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP).
Register for OTAN's Technology and Distance Learning Symposium!
Registration for OTAN's annual Technology and Distance Learning Symposium (TDLS), which will take place online from March 3 to 5, is open!
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 1/25
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Voxy / EnGen Curriculum Offer Now Available!
Voxy EnGen is a Public Benefit Corporation that helps immigrants and refugees achieve self-sufficiency, economic mobility, civic participation, and a better quality of life through virtual English language education.
New Readers Press Pre-HSE Curriculum Offer Now Available!
New Readers Press offers a Pre-HSE Online Learning course designed to guide students through the foundational content they need to move to high school equivalency level work.
New Readers Press HiSET Prep Curriculum Offer Now Available!
New Readers Press offers a HiSET Exam Prep Online Learning course designed to help students succeed on the HiSET high school equivalency test.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 1/18
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours the week of 1/18 for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Our office will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Our office will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Nominate a Deserving Student for the Adult Education Students Succeed Program
The nomination period for the 2021 Adult Education Students Succeed Program is now open.
Upcoming OTAN Activities to Support Adult Educators – Week of 1/11
OTAN has scheduled a number of online webinars and Office Hours for our adult education colleagues who are teaching and supporting their learners remotely.
Our Office Will Be Closed For the Holidays
Our office will be closed beginning Thursday, December 24th and returning Monday, January 4th.