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OTAN is at COABE 2026!
Posted on 04/09/2026
OTAN is heading to Indianapolis! We are thrilled to join our colleagues for COABE 2026 from April 13–15. Fresh off the 2025 COABE Outstanding Innovation of the Year award for our Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC), the OTAN team is ready to share strategies for scaling professional development, integrating AI, and supporting digital literacy. Whether you are attending in person or joining the virtual tracks, we’d love to connect. Catch us at lunch to say hello or join us at one of the sessions below:
Scaling Purposeful Professional Development Through Digital Leadership
Monday, 4/13/2026, 2:00:00 PM - 3:10:00 PM | Presented by Anthony Burik and Nada Anasseri
Discover how California’s Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC); the recipient of the 2025 COABE Outstanding Innovation of the Year award transformed professional development by building digital leadership capacity from within. This session explores DLAC’s replicable two-year model, which supports sustainable change through coaching, collaboration, and equity-driven design. Participants will gain tools and insights to replicate this high-impact model in their own regions and create professional learning that is purposeful, scalable, and rooted in adult learner success. In-person and Virtual presentation.
AI Assistants at the Crossroads: Empowering Educators to Shape the Future of Adult Learning
Monday, 4/13/2026, 3:50:00 PM - 5:00:00 PM | Presented by Anthony Burik
Discover how AI assistants or "agents" can transform your adult education program by streamlining administrative tasks, enhancing instruction, and supporting school operations. This session introduces practical, accessible AI tools educators can use immediately. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how AI assistants can help save time, improve outcomes, and increase engagement. Whether you're in the classroom, office, or managing programs, you'll gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into your daily work. In-person and Virtual presentation.
Digital Tool Overload: Evaluating and Selecting the Right Tech for Adult Learning
Wednesday, 4/15/2026, 8:00:00 AM - 9:10:00 AM | Presented by Miranda Currie
With so many tech tools available, how do we choose what’s worth using in adult education? This session offers practical frameworks and reflective questions to help educators evaluate and prioritize classroom technology, whether for instruction, communication, or student engagement. Explore strategies that align tech use with instructional goals, reduce overload, and support student success. Leave with tools to confidently select digital resources that add value without adding unnecessary complexity. In-person and Virtual presentation.
Click, Learn, Repeat: Simple Digital Literacy Routines for ESL Classrooms
Wednesday, 4/15/2026, 3:00 PM - 4:10 PM | Presented by Miranda Currie
How can busy ESL instructors build digital literacy without sacrificing language instruction? Learn how to design simple, repeatable tech routines that foster 21st-century skills and digital inclusion with minimal prep. Grounded in adult learning theory and digital literacy frameworks, this session offers strategies to assess learner needs and integrate digital skills into daily lessons. Participants will leave with ready-to-use examples and planning tools for sustainable, immediate implementation. In-person presentation only.
