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Upcoming OTAN Activities - Week of May 25
Posted on 05/26/2026
Check out this month’s OTAN digest for our most recent Adult Ed news!
May OTAN Digest
This Week’s Upcoming Activities
Monday, May 25 | OTAN will be closed in observance of Memorial Day. We are incredibly grateful for our adult education family - our hardworking students, dedicated teachers, and the veterans who continue to inspire us.
Tuesday, May 26, 10:00 am - 11:30 am | Google Gemini. Oh, What a Gem You Are! | Farzana Cassim, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | Artificial intelligence tools like Google Gemini are often introduced as productivity shortcuts, but their real value lies in how they help educators and learners think, communicate, and access information more effectively. This session invites participants to explore Google Gemini not as a lesson-planning machine, but as a practical tool for reducing barriers and building understanding.
It’s not too late to sign up for the OTAN Regional Bay Area Canvas Summit on Friday, June 5th 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. This regional summit is designed to bring together colleagues from across the Bay Area to learn, collaborate, and share strategies for supporting instruction, student engagement, and program management using Canvas.
Coming soon!
Monday, June 1, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Overview of OTAN’s Self-Paced Accessibility Course | Penny Pearson, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | Join us for an informative webinar introducing OTAN’s Self-Paced Accessibility Course, a flexible online learning experience designed to strengthen accessibility awareness and skills across California’s adult education community. This session will highlight the purpose of the course, walk you through its modules, and explain how it supports more inclusive digital learning environments for all learners.
Wednesday, June 3, 10:00 am - 11:30 am | Creating Videos Using PowerPoint | Penny Pearson, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | In this session, participants will be shown how to create videos that can be used to present content using PowerPoint. Participants will learn how to create a quick presentation with PowerPoint, add voiceover and then export the file as a video that can then be shared with students, used on a website, or referenced in class.
Thursday, June 4, 10:00 am - 11:00 am | Purposeful Professional Development for Adult Ed Digital Leadership | Anthony Burik and Ana Mendoza-Santiago, OTAN Coordinator; Nicole Lopez, Long Beach School for Adults; Yecsenia Castro, Hacienda-La Puente Adult Education | OTAN's Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC) is long-term professional development that builds digital leadership capacity within adult education agencies. This webinar will explore DLAC's two-year model which develops teacher leaders who can effectively integrate technology into teaching practices. We will discuss how DLAC equips participants with the knowledge and skills to cultivate a technology-driven atmosphere with their institutions through collaboration, coaching, and equity-driven design. The application to join OTAN's 2026-28 DLAC cohort is open through August 10, and we will provide more information on how to apply and participate.
Thursday, June 4, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Using Northstar to Develop Digital Literacy Skills | Anthony Burik, OTAN Subject Matter Expert | The mission of Northstar Digital Literacy is to help individuals around the world master the digital skills needed to work, learn, and participate fully in daily life. Find out how California agencies are using Northstar to help adult education learners and staff develop digital literacy skills. Individuals complete assessments and earn certificates, while agencies can also provide additional instruction with Northstar curricular materials. See the results and hear from instructors who were part of the 2024-26 pilot program sponsored by OTAN. Join us to find out how your agency can be part of the upcoming 2026-28 pilot program.
