Immigrant-Origin Adult Learners' Educational Journeys: Dismantling Barriers and Leveraging Strengths
Facilitators:
Sachiko O. Oates, EdD Technical Assistance Consultant, American Institutes for Research, Regional Training Coordinator, CALPRO
Educational opportunities can change the life trajectories of immigrant-origin adult learners and their families. In addition, immigrant-origin learners are a key constituency in adult and higher education as institutions recover from the recent enrollment decline. Join this webinar to discover insights from a critical participatory action research study that explored students’ journeys and counterstories. Implications of this study include shifts in instructional practices, support program policies, and staff and faculty training approaches. Let’s start a conversation about how your program can help dismantle barriers and leverage immigrant-origin adult learners’ strengths.
Supporting Immigrant Integration through Civics Education (Online)
Course Description:Adult education plays a significant role in the lives of immigrants. Often adult education is the first door through which a new immigrant encounters the world of services and supports available to them as they seek to increase their skills to reach their life goals. As described in the white paper by ALLIES on the Immigrant Integration Framework: “Immigrant integration is... a two-way process involving learning and adaptation by both immigrant communities and receiving communities. Broadening an understanding of diverse perspectives and cultural resources ultimately strengthens both the immigrant and receiving communities, and increases the entire community’s capacity to adapt and respond to a changing global environment." This facilitated online course will help educators support immigrants through civics education as understood within the lens of the California Immigrant Integration Initiative and aligned to approved EL Civics metrics.Goals:Participants will be able to locate and adapt Teaching Skills that Matter lesson materials on Civics Education topics in order to support immigrant students at all levels of ESL to become successful members of their communities.Registration Information:There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees.Contact Information:Please contact calpro@air.org with any questions.
Research Forum: Universal Design for Learning in Action: Applying UDL in Adult Education Classrooms
Description:
This webinar focuses on turning UDL concepts into everyday teaching routines to improve engagement, accessibility, and learner persistence, with examples tailored to adult‑education contexts. Let's explore concrete instructional strategies, lesson design choices, and learner support.
Presenter: Marie Doerner
Teaching Critical Thinking (Workshop Series, Registration Closed)
Critical thinking is an essential skill found in both the College and Career Readiness Standards and the English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education. Critical thinking skills are needed in every facet of our lives, and in particular as we are inundated with more information from a variety of dependable and undependable sources. This online workshop series will prepare you to include a variety of critical thinking strategies in your adult education classes. It is presented in three 1.5 hour webinars. Registration information*: Registration for these sessions is now closed. Scheduled session dates and times are as follows: Session 1: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PMSession 2: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PMSession 3: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM*Please note: Registering for Session 1 automatically registers you for Session 2 and 3. Certificate of Completion will reflect hours attended.
CALPRO Training-of-Trainers Institute
WHAT AND WHERE?
CALPRO annually conducts the Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Institute for the new community of practice (CoP) at the CALPRO office in Sacramento. The purposes of the ToT Institute are:
- To develop a group of certified trainers to facilitate presentations of CALPRO professional learning modules
- To build professional development capacity and leadership in California adult education.
WHAT IS CALPRO’S COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE INITIATIVE AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE ToT?
Communities of Practice are formed by groups of professionals who engage in a process of collective learning in a shared domain (adapted from Wenger, 2002). CALPRO’s Communities of Practice (CoP) Initiative aims to increase the field’s focus on supported implementation of skills, strategies and action plans that participants develop in CALPRO trainings and institutes.
For each CoP training, an online community is established. Participants meet each other and begin learning together online; they continue to build community, knowledge and skills in the face-to-face training sessions; and they have the option of continuing to support each other’s efforts to apply new learning after the conclusion of the face-to-face sessions. CALPRO CoP trainers facilitate the entire process, including online and face-to-face sessions.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The ToT is open to applicants from all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) funded agencies (see page 2). The ToT is for individuals who will commit to following up on the ToT by presenting the module for their agency, for their region, or for CALPRO at least once within a year of the ToT.
WHAT ARE EXPECTATIONS OF PARTICIPANTS?
Participants will be expected to complete pre-Institute assignments online. Participants are expected to attend the entire ToT Institute – no exceptions – and demonstrate facilitation skills in practice sessions during the ToT. After completing the ToT, participants are expected to be available to facilitate training at their agency, at other agencies, or at CDE- or CALPRO-organized events within a year of the ToT. Trainers will receive an honorarium for training conducted.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR MY AGENCY?
Your agency will have trained facilitator(s) on your staff who can serve as an in-house content specialist. Your agency will have increased capacity to provide high quality professional learning opportunities.
WHICH AGENCIES ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
Employees of all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) funded agencies are eligible to apply. For more information, contact coordinator Marcela Movit.
Teacher Collaboration Institute: Lesson Study Processes and Tools
This training is not just a learning opportunity, but a chance to empower adult education teachers with the skills and practices necessary for effective team collaboration through the Lesson Study Process. The goal is for teachers to collaboratively evaluate and enhance lessons using strategies such as lesson study, lesson charrettes, and peer observation. By engaging in these collaborative practices, teachers will be able to implement their learning directly into their teaching practices, fostering continuous improvement and the development of effective instructional strategies.CALPRO pairs each team with an implementation coach, providing a safety net of support. Each Coaching and Facilitation Team member has extensive experience in collaborative team building and planning. The coaches will be there to assist teams during their six months in the Teacher Collaboration Institute.ObjectivesEffectively implement collaborative practices within a team environment.Evidence: Documented instances of lesson charrettes, peer observations, and completed lesson study cycles. Feedback from participants on the efficacy of collaboration. Demonstrate improvement in their instructional strategies based on collaborative feedback and analysis.Evidence: Pre- and post-assessment of teacher instructional practices, changes in student engagement and learning outcomes, and qualitative feedback from teachers about their instructional changes. Sustain ongoing professional development and collaborative practices.Evidence: Creation of sustainability plans by each team collaboration, reports on subsequent year activities planned or initiated, and establishment of mentorship roles among experienced teachers.ExpectationsActive Participation: Attend all training sessions, regularly log in to Moodle, participate in discussions, and complete assignments and activities (35 total training hours).Reflection and Application: Reflecting on learning and applying concepts to real-world teaching scenarios. The goal is to improve your practice and student learning at your school.Collaborative Engagement: Your engagement with peers, sharing of insights, and providing constructive feedback is what makes our community strong. It's through this collaboration that we all grow and learn.Feedback to CALPRO: Submit evaluative feedback on your CALPRO Teacher Collaboration Institute experience with recommendations to CALPRO for refinement.Coaching and Support: Engage with your implementation coach at least once a month during the institute. For more information, contact coordinator Sudie Whalen.
Application Deadline: Teacher Collaboration Institute: Lesson Study Processes and Tools
CALPRO and the California Department of Education are pleased to announce the opening of the application to the new Teacher Collaboration Institute: Lesson Study Processes and Tools! This training is not just a learning opportunity, but a chance to empower adult education teachers with the skills and practices necessary for effective team collaboration through the Lesson Study Process. The goal is for teachers to collaboratively evaluate and enhance lessons using strategies such as lesson study, lesson charrettes, and peer observation. By engaging in these collaborative practices, teachers will be able to implement their learning directly into their teaching practices, fostering continuous improvement and the development of effective instructional strategies.CALPRO pairs each team with an implementation coach, providing a safety net of support. Each Coaching and Facilitation Team member has extensive experience in collaborative team building and planning. The coaches will be there to assist teams during their six months in the Teacher Collaboration Institute. Please note this is not training on co-teaching, although co-teachers are welcome to apply. To apply, each member of the agency team must complete the application by October 14, 2024. Notifications of acceptance will occur by October 17, 2024. (Please note that each member of your teaching team is required to submit an application). Click here to access the application.ObjectivesEffectively implement collaborative practices within a team environment.Evidence: Documented instances of lesson charrettes, peer observations, and completed lesson study cycles. Feedback from participants on the efficacy of collaboration. Demonstrate improvement in their instructional strategies based on collaborative feedback and analysis.Evidence: Pre- and post-assessment of teacher instructional practices, changes in student engagement and learning outcomes, and qualitative feedback from teachers about their instructional changes. Sustain ongoing professional development and collaborative practices.Evidence: Creation of sustainability plans by each team collaboration, reports on subsequent year activities planned or initiated, and establishment of mentorship roles among experienced teachers.ExpectationsActive Participation: Attend all training sessions, regularly log in to Moodle, participate in discussions, and complete assignments and activities (35 total training hours).Reflection and Application: Reflecting on learning and applying concepts to real-world teaching scenarios. The goal is to improve your practice and student learning at your school.Collaborative Engagement: Your engagement with peers, sharing of insights, and providing constructive feedback is what makes our community strong. It's through this collaboration that we all grow and learn.Feedback to CALPRO: Submit evaluative feedback on your CALPRO Teacher Collaboration Institute experience with recommendations to CALPRO for refinement.Coaching and Support: Engage with your implementation coach at least once a month during the institute.Registration Information :This Institute is open to all WIOA: Title II, AEFLA, and California Adult Education Program-funded agencies. Teams of at least two teachers with administrator approval are required to participate in the Institute. Not sure if you’re eligible? Let CALPRO help: email calpro@air.org or call 1-916-286-8803.Contact Information :Contact CALPRO at calpro@air.org or (916)286-8803
Civic Engagement through Democratic Literacy
Hosted by Los Angeles City CollegeCivic Education and Democratic Literacy play a pivotal role in empowering students to become engaged and informed citizens. Individuals equipped with this knowledge understand political and civic systems, allowing them to navigate these systems effectively and contribute meaningfully to the improvement of their communities. The goal of this CoP is to enhance the capacity of adult educators and programs to provide instruction that amplifies student perspective and voice, builds civic engagement, and dives deep into participatory approaches to democratic processes for adults including those who are developing literacy and language skills.Date: 3/07/2025Time: 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.Location: LACC Room: TBDRegistration Information:This tailored regional CoP is hosted by Los Angeles City College. Participants from neighboring districts or regions may be admitted on a space-available basis. There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees.
Communities of Practice Pilot: Fundamentals of Adult Education Instruction Session 1
Session 1 at Fremont Adult and Continuing EducationWhat are “Communities of Practice”?Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and strive to learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.1 To provide opportunities for California adult educators to interact regularly and to engage in sustained professional development, CALPRO is offering professional development in a Community of Practice format that includes online interaction along with two face-to-face sessions.What is a pilot?This Community of Practice is complete and ready for participants, but before offering it statewide, we are field-testing the content, design, and the online activities as a pilot. Throughout the pilot, participants will be asked for feedback. This feedback will be used to improve the delivery of future trainings.What are the benefits of participating in this CoP Pilot?More in-depth engagement with training content;Opportunity for “early adoption” of best practices;Opportunity to interact with fellow educators and the trained facilitator synchronously and asynchronously to share practical experiences and problem solve;Collegial support for thinking about program and curriculum changes;Contribution to the development of an enriched statewide professional development experience for adult educators in California.
Communities of Practice Pilot: Fundamentals of Adult Education Instruction Session 2
Session 2 at Fremont Adult and Continuing Education What are “Communities of Practice”?Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and strive to learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.1 To provide opportunities for California adult educators to interact regularly and to engage in sustained professional development, CALPRO is offering professional development in a Community of Practice format that includes online interaction along with two face-to-face sessions.What is a pilot?This Community of Practice is complete and ready for participants, but before offering it statewide, we are field-testing the content, design, and the online activities as a pilot. Throughout the pilot, participants will be asked for feedback. This feedback will be used to improve the delivery of future trainings.What are the benefits of participating in this CoP Pilot?More in-depth engagement with training content;Opportunity for “early adoption” of best practices;Opportunity to interact with fellow educators and the trained facilitator synchronously and asynchronously to share practical experiences and problem solve;Collegial support for thinking about program and curriculum changes;Contribution to the development of an enriched statewide professional development experience for adult educators in California.