California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Author: Anne Mishkind, CALPROThis brief provides an overview of research on effective teaching that can be applied in multiple settings by a broad range of teachers across diverse settings. Adult education in California takes place in environments including school districts, community colleges, community-based organizations, libraries, and correctional facilities, and serves students with skills that range from basic literacy to international professional training. Across contexts, research finds that effective teaching is enriched by:thoughtful attention to student backgrounds,collecting and using student data to inform the implementation of evidence based practices including (1) learner-centered instruction, (2) rich and contextualized content knowledge, (3) use of standards to inform learning objectives, and (4) attention to foundational skills and higher-order thinking, and planning for professional development that targets specific teacher competencies

Authors: Mariann Fedele-McLeod, Anestine Hector-Mason, Steve Hinds, Rob Jenkins, Maricel Santos, Susan Pimentel, Jodi Crandall, American Institutes for Research, 2015This document outlines the core knowledge and skills that adult education teachers need to succeed in their roles. The Adult Education Teacher Competencies help teachers improve their effectiveness and learner outcomes. They also assist instructional leaders, professional developers, and teacher preparation faculty prepare effective professional development activities for teachers. 

In today's world, media literacy is an essential skill for adults to participate in academic, professional, and community activities. This webinar will explore the importance of media literacy in adult education, providing practical tools and strategies to help learners critically evaluate media sources, understand the impact of media on society, and navigate the digital landscape with confidence. Participants will gain insights into fostering critical thinking and media analysis skills among adult learners, empowering them to become informed and engaged community members.

Adult learners bring a wealth of prior knowledge and experiences to the classroom. Their unique learning motivations and expectations call for instructional approaches that are both responsive and intentional. To support adult learners in achieving their personal, academic, or career goals, educators must design engaging and effective instruction that acknowledges and builds upon learners’ strengths and meets their needs.In this webinar, we will explore strategies for differentiating and scaffolding instruction, as well as using formative assessment to guide learner progress. The session will highlight the value of data-informed, learner-centered design in adult education and offer actionable insights for creating supportive learning environments.

Hosted by Sweetwater UHSD Adult EducationThis tailored three-hour in-person CoP is designed for faculty at Sweetwater UHSD Adult Education. Using scaffolding, differentiation, and explicit strategy instruction, this interactive workshop empowers CTE instructors to support English Language Learners in their class. The session will showcase effective instructional practices that leverage learners' strengths and support strategy development in contextualized learning. Registration Information:This tailored regional CoP is designed for the Sweetwater Adult School teachers.There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees.