Schedule

The schedule for TDLS is presented on this page. Use the filter buttons below to sort sessions by day, audience, strands, etc. For sessions you wish to attend, click the “Star” () to add the session to “My TDLS” which allows you at any time to review your customized schedule. Once a presentation begins, click the “Join now!” button. After the session, return to the session and choose the “Evaluation” link to provide our presenters with feedback on their presentations.

Schedule Icons


Friday Sessions

Breakfast   (Friday 7:30am-8:30am)

Welcome & Keynote   (Friday 8:45am-10:15am)

Session 1   (Friday 10:30am-12:00pm)

Personalizing Your Communications in a Virtual Setting
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Marian Sebe
Virtual spaces may oftentimes seem large and lack personalization. Creating a personalized space through multi media options can add warmth, personality and fun to your day-to-day communications to further engage learners.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ASE, CTE, WFP • CAT: DLE, OEA)
Write with AI oh mAI!
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Francisco Pinedo Jr.
Participants will learn how to use AI as a tool for the writing process for students. Examples of how AI is used to aid the writing process will be shown. Participants are encouraged to have an AI account (Chat GPT, Gemini, Claude,etc) to use during the Follow-along workshop. Participants are also encouraged to bring student writing samples to facilitate the follow-along activities.
(AUD: STF, TEA, ADM • PGM: ASE, PAA, CTE, WFP, ABE, AWD, ESL • CAT: EEA, DLF, DLE)
NotebookLM in Action: Curate, Create, and Podcast with AI YOU Control
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Dana Thompson
Adult educators are overwhelmed by AI tools that pull from the whole web, making accuracy and relevance uncertain. NotebookLM offers a solution by grounding AI responses in your own materials—lesson plans, curriculum, program documents, or standards. With features like auto-generated summaries and podcasts, it provides a practical, trustworthy way to support instruction and planning while preserving context and educator voice.
(AUD: STF, TEA, ADM • PGM: ASE, PAA, CTE, WFP, ABE, AWD, ESL • CAT: EEA, DLF, DLE)
Making Adult Ed Data More Meaningful and Actionable
Demonstration (90 minute)
Crystal James
Have you ever wished you could do more with Excel, but you didn’t know where to start? (merging, conditional columns, formulas) With the right prompts, you can use ChatGPT as a teacher to learn just what you need to learn for your specific goals. In this presentation, we will go over the capabilities and basics of Powerquery (a tool built into Excel) and talk about how Twin Rivers Adult School has used it along with AI to help make some essential reports more actionable and visible.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE, AWD, ESL, PAA, CTE, WFP • CAT: DLM, OEA, PAC)
Oh, What a Gem You Are: Exploring Google Gemini for Educators
Demonstration (90 minute)
Farzana Cassim
This session provides an overview of Google Gemini, focusing on what the tool can do today. Through live demonstrations, participants will explore Gemini’s multimodal capabilities, including working with text and images, to better understand how it supports thinking, communication, and access to information. The session emphasizes realistic use cases, current limitations, and appropriate use alongside human judgment.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE, AWD, ESL, PAA, CTE, WFP • CAT: DLF, DLE)
Level Up Learning: Building Digital & ESL Skills, LBC Style
Demonstration (90 minute)
Nicole Lopez (w/ Lisa Busch)
This highly engaging & energizing presentation highlights Northstar Digital Literacy and Ellii, two platforms that support success in today’s digital & workforce-driven environment. The session traces the evolution of our DLAC journey, from digital literacy workshops for ESL learners to Northstar for essential digital skills & Ellii for high-quality ESL curriculum & resources. These tools strengthen instruction, engagement, & alignment while building confidence for purposeful implementation.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE, AWD, ESL, PAA, CTE, WFP • CAT: DLM, PAC)

Lunch   (Friday 12:00pm-1:00pm)

Session 2   (Friday 1:00pm-2:00pm)

Click, Tap, Learn: 7 Keys to Accessible, Student-Centered Websites
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Carolyn "Dr. Q" Quetzal
Unlock the secrets to creating adult education websites that work for everyone! This session reveals seven critical design strategies—intuitive navigation, mobile responsiveness, accessibility, second language support, and more—using wvoc.net as a live model. Learn how these principles boost enrollment, enhance student satisfaction, and deliver measurable impact.
(AUD: STF, TEA, ADM • PGM: ASE, PAA, CTE, WFP, ABE, AWD, ESL • CAT: EEA, DLE, OEA)
The Folsom Prison Blues Remix: Using Canvas to Unlock Potential Behind Bars
Panel or Facilitated discussion (60 minutes)
Rachel Kralyevich (w/ Shannon Woods-Principal of Greystone Adult School)
I hear that whistle blowin' down the cellblock line. Greystone's got a mission, got a master plan in mind. Smart Boards on the walls and laptops in the room. CANVAS is the answer, gonna chase away the gloom. Technology's the pathway to a better life ahead. Education's the foundation, that's what all the teachers said. That online education, it's a lifeline in the night. Smart Boards and the laptops shinin' bright. We adjust, we adapt, we find another way. CANVAS behind the walls is here to stay.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE • CAT: DLM, CRR, PAC)
Human First: Teaching SEL to Adult Learners in the Age of AI
Panel or Facilitated discussion (60 minutes)
Tory Wadlington
Technology and AI are transforming education—but adult learners still need strong social-emotional skills to thrive. This session explores practical strategies for teaching SEL in digital learning environments, empowering adult learners to develop self-awareness, resilience, collaboration, and critical thinking in a tech-driven world.
(AUD: STF, TEA, ADM • PGM: ASE, PAA, CTE, WFP, ABE, AWD, ESL • CAT: DLF, DLE, OEA)
Challenges in Adult Education: Recruitment, Remote Testing and Retention
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Maria Elena Gomez-Lecaro (w/ Twyla Eva)
Jefferson Adult Online is in its third year. Our primary challenges are the "Three Rs": Recruitment, Remote Testing, and Retention. This presentation will examine the obstacles we have encountered in addressing these critical areas.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ESL, PAA, WFP • CAT: DLF, DLM, OEA)
FuturePlay with Open Innovation Centers in the Tech Playground
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Clare Bhakta (w/ Jateen Bhakta)
Explore New Collar Skills—high-tech skills that don’t require four-year degrees. In this interactive session, participants rotate through hands-on stations featuring 3D printing, AI, and Virtual Reality. Guided by Open Innovation Centers staff, you’ll experiment and play, then leave with two practical, low-tech ways to bring innovation and confidence into your classroom right away.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE, AWD, ESL, PAA, CTE, WFP • CAT: DLF, DLE, DLM)

Session 3   (Friday 2:15pm-3:45pm)

Differentiate? Do It with Diffit! AI-Powered Activities for ESL and CTE
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Denise Douglas
Adult Ed instructors face the challenge of teaching learners with widely varied language levels, academic backgrounds, and career goals—often in the same classroom. Diffit is an AI-powered tool that helps ESL & CTE teachers quickly create differentiated learning materials. Educators can generate or adapt content from workplace topics, standards, articles, videos, or vocabulary lists, then adjust reading levels and translate—saving time while supporting language development & career readiness.
(AUD: TEA, ADM • PGM: ABE, ASE, ESL, CTE, WFP • CAT: DLE)
Designing for Equity: A Course for Accessible Digital Learning in Adult Ed
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Penny Pearson (w/ Debbie Jensen)
Discover practical ways to make adult education digital content accessible and equitable. Based on the Accessibility Training for AE Teachers course, this session provides an overview of the course contents, including UDL, WCAG 2.2, and Section 508. The course allows a self-paced approach to learning with instruction on how to apply alt text, headings, color contrast, captions, and other tools. Leave with accessibility resources so every learner can access and succeed, online and in class.
(AUD: STF, TEA, ADM • PGM: ASE, PAA, CTE, WFP, ABE, AWD, ESL • CAT: EEA, DLE)
AI-assisted Story Creation for Students
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Barry Bakin
Bring the power of AI-Assisted Story Creation to students for pleasure reading, assignments, family literacy, and exciting personal projects! Learn how to use AI and other Apps to create both the text and the images for imaginative storytelling and book creation!
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE, AWD, ESL • CAT: DLE, OEA)
Beyond Static Examples: Using AI to Build Interactive Examples for Students
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Matt Rhoads
Move beyond static examples and learn to create dynamic, interactive tutorials for any subject. This hands-on lab demystifies using generative AI as a powerful instructional design partner. No coding required! We will walk through a practical workflow: crafting effective prompts, refining AI-generated HTML code, and deploying the finished tutorial directly into your LMS. This session provides a replicable process to build engaging, step-by-step learning experiences and time to build your own.
(AUD: TEA, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE, AWD, ESL, CTE, WFP • CAT: DLE, DLM, OEA)
Putting English to Work 1-3 (PETW) and The Write Stuff (TWS) in Canvas
Demonstration (90 minute)
Francisca Wentworth
PETW 1-3 and (TWS) are two OTAN supported online courses using Canvas LMS that provide learning opportunities for students. PETW Episodes cover real-life situations many of our English Language Learners encounter in their daily lives. TWS is designed for Adult Education English Language Learners at Intermediate High and Advanced levels to improve their writing skills. The course was redesigned in Canvas with new content and activities to help students improve their writing skills.
(AUD: TEA, ADM • PGM: ESL • CAT: DLE)
Canvas Made Easy with Bite-Size Training
Demonstration (90 minute)
Arezoo Miller (w/ Henry Mulak)
Discover how a uniform Canvas shell can simplify teaching and boost student success. Our team will share how we identified needs, set goals, and turned challenges into collaboration. In this workshop, you’ll get ideas on building templates, creating step-by-step guides, and developing resources that you can use right away to streamline courses, support digital literacy, and empower adult learners in any subject.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE, ESL • CAT: DLF, DLE, DLM)
FuturePlay with Open Innovation Centers in the Tech Playground
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Clare Bhakta (w/ Jateen Bhakta)
Explore New Collar Skills—high-tech skills that don’t require four-year degrees. In this interactive session, participants rotate through hands-on stations featuring 3D printing, AI, and Virtual Reality. Guided by Open Innovation Centers staff, you’ll experiment and play, then leave with two practical, low-tech ways to bring innovation and confidence into your classroom right away.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE, AWD, ESL, PAA, CTE, WFP • CAT: DLF, DLE, DLM)

Session 4   (Friday 4:00pm-5:00pm)

From Pilot to Practice: Porterville Adult School’s Northstar Journey
Follow-along Workshop (60 Minutes)
Jeff Bochat (w/ Valerie Craig)
Today we will be exploring the use of Northstar Digital Literacy with adult learners. Adult learners above the age of 30 need this program, and what is offered to progress through our other systems that are in place at Porterville Adult School.
(AUD: ADM, TEA • PGM: AWD, ABE, PAA, CTE, WFP, ASE, ESL • CAT: EEA, DLF, DLE)
Sustaining Digital Transformation Through DLAC
Panel or Facilitated discussion (60 minutes)
Nada (Neda) Anasseri
Join DLAC leads and participants to explore how a two-year digital leadership pathway can transform your adult education program. Panelists will share successes, challenges, and strategies for aligning technology integration with continuous improvement, equity, and leadership culture. Attendees will gain actionable insights and drive to apply for the next cohort (2026-2028).
(AUD: STF, TEA, ADM • PGM: ASE, PAA, CTE, WFP, ABE, AWD, ESL • CAT: EEA, DLE, PAC)
Padlet: Swiss Army Knife of EdTech for Adult Educators
Follow-along Workshop (60 Minutes)
Kristi Reyes
Padlet has long been a favorite digital tool in education, but many adult educators use only a fraction of its capabilities. This interactive session demonstrates how Padlet, with its newer and often overlooked features, serves as the “Swiss Army knife” of EdTech: versatile, adaptable to many teaching contexts, and engaging for adult learners in both synchronous and asynchronous settings.
(AUD: TEA • PGM: ABE, ASE, AWD, ESL, PAA, CTE, WFP • CAT: DLE, OEA)
Breaking Barriers: Advancing Digital Equity in Correctional Education
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Jerry Yamashita (w/ Gina Wandell)
Learn how secure digital platforms advance digital equity in correctional education by expanding access to standards-aligned learning for programs serving diverse adult learners—from English language acquisition and basic skills to career training and high school completion or equivalency. Gain insights into implementing secure digital ecosystems that combine LMS, courseware, and custom content to improve engagement, continuity, and data visibility—even in restrictive environments.
(AUD: TEA, ADM • PGM: ABE, ASE, ESL, CTE • CAT: EEA, DLE, CRR)
From TikTok to Teaching: Microlearning for Adult Learners
Follow-along Workshop (60 Minutes)
Alayna Effinger
Discover how microlearning and short-form content can boost engagement and retention for adult learners. This session explores mobile-first strategies, TikTok-style mini lessons, and AI tools to quickly create bite-size instruction for ESL, ABE/HSE, and CTE classes. Walk away with ready-to-use templates and practical workflows you can implement immediately.
(AUD: STF, TEA, ADM • PGM: ASE, PAA, CTE, WFP, ABE, AWD, ESL • CAT: DLF, DLE, OEA)
21st Century 1-Room Schoolhouse: Onboarding in a Mixed-level Classroom.
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Robert Gomez
By the end of this workshop, participants will gain an understanding of how this HSE teacher matriculates and integrates adult learners with the aid of technological resources.
(AUD: TEA, ADM • PGM: ABE, ASE • CAT: DLE, DLM, OEA)
Assessment Tracker
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Daniel Cutler (w/ Angelica Diaz-Roman)
This presentation presents a unique tracker created by Monterey Adult School to monitor CASAS scores and EL Civics scores all in one place. The tracker allows you to see which students received level gains and passed their Civics assessments. It is a very comprehensive view of your students progress and performance.
(AUD: TEA, ADM, STF • PGM: ABE, ASE, ESL • CAT: DLF, DLE, PAC)
Tech Playground
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
OTAN Staff
The Tech Playground is an interactive space where you can explore, experiment, and experience the latest in emerging technology! Get hands-on with technology and see firsthand how these tools are shaping the future of education. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just curious about what’s next, this is your chance to test, play, and discover in a fun and welcoming environment. Bring your curiosity and get ready to dive into the world of cutting-edge technology!
(AUD: STF, TEA, ADM • PGM: ASE, PAA, CTE, WFP, ABE, AWD, ESL • CAT: EEA, DLE, PAC)

Schedule

The schedule for TDLS is presented on this page. Use the filter buttons below to sort sessions by day, audience, strands, etc. For sessions you wish to attend, click the “Star” () to add the session to “My TDLS” which allows you at any time to review your customized schedule. Once a presentation begins, click the “Join now!” button. After the session, return to the session and choose the “Evaluation” link to provide our presenters with feedback on their presentations.

Show More

Schedule Icons


Friday Sessions

Breakfast  
(7:30am-8:30am)

Welcome & Keynote  
(8:45am-10:15am)

Session 1  
(10:30am-12:00pm)

Personalizing Your Communications in a Virtual Setting
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Marian Sebe
Virtual spaces may oftentimes seem large and lack personalization. Creating a personalized space through multi media options can add warmth, personality and fun to your day-to-day communications to further engage learners.

Room 1 and Online
Presenter on Zoom

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Write with AI oh mAI!
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Francisco Pinedo Jr.
Participants will learn how to use AI as a tool for the writing process for students. Examples of how AI is used to aid the writing process will be shown. Participants are encouraged to have an AI account (Chat GPT, Gemini, Claude,etc) to use during the Follow-along workshop. Participants are also encouraged to bring student writing samples to facilitate the follow-along activities.

Room 5 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
NotebookLM in Action: Curate, Create, and Podcast with AI YOU Control
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Dana Thompson
Adult educators are overwhelmed by AI tools that pull from the whole web, making accuracy and relevance uncertain. NotebookLM offers a solution by grounding AI responses in your own materials—lesson plans, curriculum, program documents, or standards. With features like auto-generated summaries and podcasts, it provides a practical, trustworthy way to support instruction and planning while preserving context and educator voice.

Room 6 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Making Adult Ed Data More Meaningful and Actionable
Demonstration (90 minute)
Crystal James
Have you ever wished you could do more with Excel, but you didn’t know where to start? (merging, conditional columns, formulas) With the right prompts, you can use ChatGPT as a teacher to learn just what you need to learn for your specific goals. In this presentation, we will go over the capabilities and basics of Powerquery (a tool built into Excel) and talk about how Twin Rivers Adult School has used it along with AI to help make some essential reports more actionable and visible.

Room 8 and Online
Presenter on Zoom

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Oh, What a Gem You Are: Exploring Google Gemini for Educators
Demonstration (90 minute)
Farzana Cassim
This session provides an overview of Google Gemini, focusing on what the tool can do today. Through live demonstrations, participants will explore Gemini’s multimodal capabilities, including working with text and images, to better understand how it supports thinking, communication, and access to information. The session emphasizes realistic use cases, current limitations, and appropriate use alongside human judgment.

Room 9 and Online
Presenter on Zoom

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Level Up Learning: Building Digital & ESL Skills, LBC Style
Demonstration (90 minute)
Nicole Lopez (w/ Lisa Busch)
This highly engaging & energizing presentation highlights Northstar Digital Literacy and Ellii, two platforms that support success in today’s digital & workforce-driven environment. The session traces the evolution of our DLAC journey, from digital literacy workshops for ESL learners to Northstar for essential digital skills & Ellii for high-quality ESL curriculum & resources. These tools strengthen instruction, engagement, & alignment while building confidence for purposeful implementation.
Room 17
In-person only
Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.

Lunch  
(12:00pm-1:00pm)

Session 2  
(1:00pm-2:00pm)

Click, Tap, Learn: 7 Keys to Accessible, Student-Centered Websites
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Carolyn "Dr. Q" Quetzal
Unlock the secrets to creating adult education websites that work for everyone! This session reveals seven critical design strategies—intuitive navigation, mobile responsiveness, accessibility, second language support, and more—using wvoc.net as a live model. Learn how these principles boost enrollment, enhance student satisfaction, and deliver measurable impact.

Room 4 and Online
Presenter on Zoom

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
The Folsom Prison Blues Remix: Using Canvas to Unlock Potential Behind Bars
Panel or Facilitated discussion (60 minutes)
Rachel Kralyevich (w/ Shannon Woods-Principal of Greystone Adult School)
I hear that whistle blowin' down the cellblock line. Greystone's got a mission, got a master plan in mind. Smart Boards on the walls and laptops in the room. CANVAS is the answer, gonna chase away the gloom. Technology's the pathway to a better life ahead. Education's the foundation, that's what all the teachers said. That online education, it's a lifeline in the night. Smart Boards and the laptops shinin' bright. We adjust, we adapt, we find another way. CANVAS behind the walls is here to stay.

Room 5 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Human First: Teaching SEL to Adult Learners in the Age of AI
Panel or Facilitated discussion (60 minutes)
Tory Wadlington
Technology and AI are transforming education—but adult learners still need strong social-emotional skills to thrive. This session explores practical strategies for teaching SEL in digital learning environments, empowering adult learners to develop self-awareness, resilience, collaboration, and critical thinking in a tech-driven world.

Room 8 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Challenges in Adult Education: Recruitment, Remote Testing and Retention
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Maria Elena Gomez-Lecaro (w/ Twyla Eva)
Jefferson Adult Online is in its third year. Our primary challenges are the "Three Rs": Recruitment, Remote Testing, and Retention. This presentation will examine the obstacles we have encountered in addressing these critical areas.
Room 17
In-person only
Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
FuturePlay with Open Innovation Centers in the Tech Playground
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Clare Bhakta (w/ Jateen Bhakta)
Explore New Collar Skills—high-tech skills that don’t require four-year degrees. In this interactive session, participants rotate through hands-on stations featuring 3D printing, AI, and Virtual Reality. Guided by Open Innovation Centers staff, you’ll experiment and play, then leave with two practical, low-tech ways to bring innovation and confidence into your classroom right away.
Room 18
In-person only
Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.

Session 3  
(2:15pm-3:45pm)

Differentiate? Do It with Diffit! AI-Powered Activities for ESL and CTE
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Denise Douglas
Adult Ed instructors face the challenge of teaching learners with widely varied language levels, academic backgrounds, and career goals—often in the same classroom. Diffit is an AI-powered tool that helps ESL & CTE teachers quickly create differentiated learning materials. Educators can generate or adapt content from workplace topics, standards, articles, videos, or vocabulary lists, then adjust reading levels and translate—saving time while supporting language development & career readiness.
Room 1
In-person only
Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Designing for Equity: A Course for Accessible Digital Learning in Adult Ed
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Penny Pearson (w/ Debbie Jensen)
Discover practical ways to make adult education digital content accessible and equitable. Based on the Accessibility Training for AE Teachers course, this session provides an overview of the course contents, including UDL, WCAG 2.2, and Section 508. The course allows a self-paced approach to learning with instruction on how to apply alt text, headings, color contrast, captions, and other tools. Leave with accessibility resources so every learner can access and succeed, online and in class.
Room 3
In-person only
Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
AI-assisted Story Creation for Students
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Barry Bakin
Bring the power of AI-Assisted Story Creation to students for pleasure reading, assignments, family literacy, and exciting personal projects! Learn how to use AI and other Apps to create both the text and the images for imaginative storytelling and book creation!

Room 5 and Online
Presenter on Zoom

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Beyond Static Examples: Using AI to Build Interactive Examples for Students
Follow-along Workshop (90 minute)
Matt Rhoads
Move beyond static examples and learn to create dynamic, interactive tutorials for any subject. This hands-on lab demystifies using generative AI as a powerful instructional design partner. No coding required! We will walk through a practical workflow: crafting effective prompts, refining AI-generated HTML code, and deploying the finished tutorial directly into your LMS. This session provides a replicable process to build engaging, step-by-step learning experiences and time to build your own.

Room 6 and Online
Presenter on Zoom

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Putting English to Work 1-3 (PETW) and The Write Stuff (TWS) in Canvas
Demonstration (90 minute)
Francisca Wentworth
PETW 1-3 and (TWS) are two OTAN supported online courses using Canvas LMS that provide learning opportunities for students. PETW Episodes cover real-life situations many of our English Language Learners encounter in their daily lives. TWS is designed for Adult Education English Language Learners at Intermediate High and Advanced levels to improve their writing skills. The course was redesigned in Canvas with new content and activities to help students improve their writing skills.

Room 9 and Online
Presenter on Zoom

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Canvas Made Easy with Bite-Size Training
Demonstration (90 minute)
Arezoo Miller (w/ Henry Mulak)
Discover how a uniform Canvas shell can simplify teaching and boost student success. Our team will share how we identified needs, set goals, and turned challenges into collaboration. In this workshop, you’ll get ideas on building templates, creating step-by-step guides, and developing resources that you can use right away to streamline courses, support digital literacy, and empower adult learners in any subject.
Room 17
In-person only
Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
FuturePlay with Open Innovation Centers in the Tech Playground
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Clare Bhakta (w/ Jateen Bhakta)
Explore New Collar Skills—high-tech skills that don’t require four-year degrees. In this interactive session, participants rotate through hands-on stations featuring 3D printing, AI, and Virtual Reality. Guided by Open Innovation Centers staff, you’ll experiment and play, then leave with two practical, low-tech ways to bring innovation and confidence into your classroom right away.
Room 18
In-person only
Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.

Session 4  
(4:00pm-5:00pm)

From Pilot to Practice: Porterville Adult School’s Northstar Journey
Follow-along Workshop (60 Minutes)
Jeff Bochat (w/ Valerie Craig)
Today we will be exploring the use of Northstar Digital Literacy with adult learners. Adult learners above the age of 30 need this program, and what is offered to progress through our other systems that are in place at Porterville Adult School.

Room 1 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Sustaining Digital Transformation Through DLAC
Panel or Facilitated discussion (60 minutes)
Nada (Neda) Anasseri
Join DLAC leads and participants to explore how a two-year digital leadership pathway can transform your adult education program. Panelists will share successes, challenges, and strategies for aligning technology integration with continuous improvement, equity, and leadership culture. Attendees will gain actionable insights and drive to apply for the next cohort (2026-2028).

Room 3 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Padlet: Swiss Army Knife of EdTech for Adult Educators
Follow-along Workshop (60 Minutes)
Kristi Reyes
Padlet has long been a favorite digital tool in education, but many adult educators use only a fraction of its capabilities. This interactive session demonstrates how Padlet, with its newer and often overlooked features, serves as the “Swiss Army knife” of EdTech: versatile, adaptable to many teaching contexts, and engaging for adult learners in both synchronous and asynchronous settings.

Room 4 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Breaking Barriers: Advancing Digital Equity in Correctional Education
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Jerry Yamashita (w/ Gina Wandell)
Learn how secure digital platforms advance digital equity in correctional education by expanding access to standards-aligned learning for programs serving diverse adult learners—from English language acquisition and basic skills to career training and high school completion or equivalency. Gain insights into implementing secure digital ecosystems that combine LMS, courseware, and custom content to improve engagement, continuity, and data visibility—even in restrictive environments.

Room 5 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
From TikTok to Teaching: Microlearning for Adult Learners
Follow-along Workshop (60 Minutes)
Alayna Effinger
Discover how microlearning and short-form content can boost engagement and retention for adult learners. This session explores mobile-first strategies, TikTok-style mini lessons, and AI tools to quickly create bite-size instruction for ESL, ABE/HSE, and CTE classes. Walk away with ready-to-use templates and practical workflows you can implement immediately.

Room 6 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
21st Century 1-Room Schoolhouse: Onboarding in a Mixed-level Classroom.
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Robert Gomez
By the end of this workshop, participants will gain an understanding of how this HSE teacher matriculates and integrates adult learners with the aid of technological resources.

Room 8 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Assessment Tracker
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
Daniel Cutler (w/ Angelica Diaz-Roman)
This presentation presents a unique tracker created by Monterey Adult School to monitor CASAS scores and EL Civics scores all in one place. The tracker allows you to see which students received level gains and passed their Civics assessments. It is a very comprehensive view of your students progress and performance.

Room 9 and Online
Hybrid

Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.
Tech Playground
Demonstration (60 Minutes)
OTAN Staff
The Tech Playground is an interactive space where you can explore, experiment, and experience the latest in emerging technology! Get hands-on with technology and see firsthand how these tools are shaping the future of education. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just curious about what’s next, this is your chance to test, play, and discover in a fun and welcoming environment. Bring your curiosity and get ready to dive into the world of cutting-edge technology!
Room 18
In-person only
Evaluation
This presentation has been saved to your schedule.