California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Facilitators:Jayme Adelson-Goldstein, Consultant, Lighthearted LearningEffective teaching approaches are those that support learners’ agency and promote their success in and out of the classroom. Three such approaches are project-based and problem-based learning and contextualized instruction. Each integrates the development of basic academic skills alongside essential skills while building relevant, meaningful content knowledge. Join us to learn more about these three approaches in action and reflect on implications for your practice. 

This webinar will provide an overview of results from a recently released study called the Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) Prison Study. This study provides information on skills and competencies of incarcerated adults, and compares them to those of adults in U.S. households. The study also includes information on the extent of inmates' participation in formal education and job training programs.Compared to the household population, the incarcerated population is disproportionately male, Black, and Hispanic and has lower levels of education. A large majority (94 percent) of incarcerated adults have no more education than a high school degree (and many have less) compared to 64 percent of adults in the general U.S. household population. Compared to the U.S. household average, incarcerated adults' literacy scores are significantly lower (by 21 points) and their average numeracy scores are significantly lower (by 35 points). About 20 percent of incarcerated adults are currently studying for a formal degree, with 70 percent of those currently not studying reporting they would like to enroll in an education program. 

Presenter: Dr. John Tibbetts, consultant to the American Institutes for Research for 20 years, is co-founder of San Francisco State University's Center for Adult Education. Dr. Tibbetts has authored many research publications and has taught adult education at the University of Auckland and University of Southern Maine.In his presentation, Dr. John Tibbetts, co-founder of the San Francisco State University Center for Adult Education and a CALPRO consultant, shifted the focus from instructional practice to student learning. Among the questions Dr. Tibbetts addressed were: Which leadership approach, what instructional facilitation, and what student activities most improve student learning? What supports do students need and what should learners be doing to achieve maximum learning? How do we verify student learning gains? 

Presenter: Dr. Anestine Hector-Mason serves in several leadership capacities as Director of several federally funded projects for AIR. She is a member of AIR's Institutional Review Board (IRB) and an Editor for the Adults Learning Maths Journal ? an international peer reviewed journal on adult mathematics literacy. With over 19 years of experience in English language learning at the kindergarten through college and adult education levels, Dr. Hector-Mason has strong expertise in teaching as well as in qualitative research design, methodology, theory, and large scale document and content analyses.In this session Dr. Anestine Hector-Mason from the American Institutes for Research (AIR) discussed Evidence Based Instruction (EBI), including the core principles and literature base that informs this type of practice in the field of education. The presentation introduced the concept and then led into a broader discussion centering on the practice of evidence-based instruction within the field of adult education. The presentation concluded with critical questions vis-�-vis the practice of EBI within the field of adult education.

Presenter: Mariann Fedele-McLeod, American Institutes for ResearchIn this 90 minute webinar, facilitator Mariann Fedele-McLeod of the American Institutes for Research discussed the research and literature on the instructional practices known to be most effective with adult learners. For teachers to be effective they must have supportive conditions, Fedele-McLeod presented and discussed the system features needed to support effective teaching and improve student learning. 

Presenter: Dr. Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, Senior Research Analyst at the American Institutes for Research, brings over twenty years of experience in literacy work with learners of all ages. She has personal experience at every level of adult education programming and has published scholarly work in adult pedagogy, disability services, integration of technology into literacy learning, and service delivery systems.What policies would significantly change the odds of success for adult learners? Explore and contribute to innovative ideas and service delivery models generated at a symposium in Washington, DC from making childcare more affordable for working and learning parents to strategies to accelerate and contextualize basic skills with vocational training. 

Facilitator: Kristi ReyesAdult learners sometimes face internal barriers that can limit their potential for success in our classes, but there are things we can do to help students develop strategies for overcoming barriers. Of the possible strategies, this webinar will focus on two: encouraging a growth mindset and overcoming the effects of internalized stereotypes. These strategies can affect not only performance in school but can also have a positive influence on learners' lives beyond education. Learn how these strategies work and consider ways of using them in your own teaching.

Facilitator: Tricia Ouellette, Mt. Diablo Adult EducationWhat kind of support can we provide to our students to help them meet their goals and move on to the next stage of life, whether it's further education, job training, or a better job? In this session, you will hear about the many strategies Mt. Diablo Adult Education, as part of the Contra Costa Adult Education Consortium, has employed to support learner transitions, including an interest survey, new English and Math courses, counseling, financial aid workshops, career exploration, and more! 

Facilitator: Anna Pilloton, Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships at the College of MarinWhat do your students need to know about transferring to a community college, or from non–credit classes to credit? What options do they have in terms of cost? What are the different pathways they should consider for their future? What support services are available to them once they are enrolled, and how should they go about finding what they need? This webinar will take you on a guided tour of the community college resources and services.