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Power Up Your Fall Conference Schedule with OTAN!

Posted on 10/29/2026

This fall, OTAN Subject Matter Experts are hitting the conference circuit across California to bring you hands-on, ready-to-use strategies that elevate adult education. Whether you are attending the CAEP Summit, CATESOL, CCAE South / South Coast, or the 2026 CTE Conference, our team is delivering high-impact sessions designed to solve your biggest classroom and agency challenges.

1. CAEP Summit 2026

   • Dates: October 27–30, 2026
   • Location: Santa Clara Convention Center (Santa Clara, CA)
   • Website
   • Overview: Organized by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, this flagship summit focuses on the theme "Advancing Adult Learners: Access, Opportunity, and Success." It brings together over 500 adult education leaders, faculty, and coordinators to share best practices in program leadership, student success, and systemic innovation.
     Presentation Title

     Presenter(s)

     Key Takeaways
     From Student Interests to Standards-Aligned Lessons

     Apolonio Valdovinos

     Build student-centered, standards-aligned lessons using interest surveys, templates, and AI prompts.
     Adult Education Standards Meet AI, Oh mAI! (Oct 29)

     Francisco X. Pinedo

     Craft targeted AI prompts correlating ELPS and CCRS to generate custom classroom materials on your device.
     Supporting ESL Students through a CTE Pathway

     Alisa Takeuchi

     Discover digital tools and strategies to help ESL learners build language and technical skills in CTE programs.
     California Rural Agencies – Make Your Tech Goals a Reality!

     Anthony Burik & Francisco X. Pinedo

     Access free coaching, edtech selection guidance, and offline RACHEL device demos for remote adult education agencies.
     Safe AI in Education

     Anthony Burik, Audrey Dierdorff, Juan Noguera, Ali Chishti

     Learn responsible AI guardrails (privacy, bias, transparency) and walk away with a consortium-ready safety checklist.

2. ---

   CATESOL 2026 State Conference

   • Dates: November 6–7, 2026
   • Location: Santiago Canyon College (Orange, CA)
   • Website
   • Overview: Centered on the theme "Rising Together: Embracing the Future with Humanity," CATESOL brings together English language educators across California to discuss human-centered approaches to multilingual education, tech integration, and student advocacy.
     Presentation Title

     Presenter(s)

     Key Takeaways
     Applying Bloom's and AI to Create Tech Curriculum

     Apolonio Valdovinos

     Use Bloom's Taxonomy (starting at Create) and AI templates to design student-first tech tasks and realistic artifacts.
     Beyond the Screen: Creating Connections & Supporting Success

     Kristi Reyes, Chris Vela Che, Katrina Tamura

     Address online student attrition and digital barriers using practical tools for community building and engagement.
     Digital Tools to Support ESL Students in a CTE Pathway

     Alisa Takeuchi

     Overcome linguistic and cultural barriers by scaffolding technical vocabulary, safety guidelines, and workplace tools.
     Vibe Coding: Creating Games & Storybooks with Gemini

     Susan Gaer

     Use Gemini Canvas to build interactive apps and storybooks without coding experience, and earn a Google Badge.
     OTAN Website and Resources for Adult Education

     Ana Mendoza-Santiago, Elvira Harris

     Learn all about the useful resources on OTAN's website, from upcoming professional development, to our annual conference, to tech-related curriculum.

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   CCAE South & South Coast Fall Conference 2026

   • Dates: November 6–7, 2026
   • Location: Palm Springs Riviera Resort (Palm Springs, CA)
   • Website
   • Overview: This year's theme is "Elevating Adult Education" A premier regional gathering hosted by the California Council for Adult Education, uniting teachers, classified staff, and administrators to explore hands-on classroom tools, administrative solutions, and adult student success strategies.
     Presentation Title

     Presenter(s)

     Key Takeaways
     Tech-Ready Classroom: Quick & Easy Strategies

     Elisia Doonan & Yecsenia Castro

     Implement accessible digital tools and differentiated techniques to foster inclusive learning spaces.
     Cultivating Mindfulness for All Through Tech

     Elisia Doonan & Yecsenia Castro

     Leverage UDL and digital apps (journaling, music, movement) to support learner wellness and focus.
     Streamline Your Planning: OTAN Course Outline Builder

     Miranda Currie & Paige Endo

     Hands-on walkthrough of OTAN’s free tool to design structured, state-aligned course outlines and pacing guides.
     Power Up Your Teaching with Free Canvas Courses

     Miranda Currie & Debbie Jensen

     Explore and import free OTAN Canvas courses across ESL, ABE, HSD/HSE, and CTE subjects from Canvas Commons.
     Designing & Delivering Effective HyFlex Instruction

     Audrey Dierdorff

     Sneak peek at OTAN’s Canvas training course on managing simultaneous live and online learning environments.
     Gemini Notebook Created It! Now What Can I Do With It?

     Farzana Cassim

     Transform Gemini Notebook outputs (flashcards, quizzes, overviews) into interactive slides, PDFs, and classroom tasks.
     App-solutely Effortless: Build Custom EdTech Tools with Claude

     Josh Eick

     Use Claude AI "Artifacts" to transform static worksheets and notes into custom, interactive web apps and forms.
     Creating Student-Centered Digital Skills Materials

     Apolonio Valdovinos

     Build realistic practice tools (mock banking, patient portals, paystubs) using AI templates to teach real-world tech tasks.

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   2026 CTE Conference

   • Dates: November 18–20, 2026
   • Location: Omni Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage, CA
   • Website
   • Overview: Dedicated to Career and Technical Education specialists, academic instructors, and career pathway coordinators seeking to strengthen workforce preparation and trade skills instruction across adult education and community colleges.
     Presentation Title

     Presenter(s)

     Key Takeaways
     Clicks to Ready: Digital Tools that Power ESL Success

     Alisa Takeuchi

     Integrate digital tools that scaffold technical CTE content while simultaneously building English language skills.
     Tech Tools That Make CTE Math Click

     Yecsenia Castro & Christina Hyatt

     Use free, engaging digital tools to connect abstract math concepts to hands-on workplace applications.
     Using Digital Systems to Improve Adult CTE Retention

     Ana Mendoza-Santiago

     Connect LMS, SIS, dashboards, and AI communication tools to support adult learners at critical persistence milestones.