California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Author: John Tibbetts and Anestine Hector-Mason, September 2015Produced by California Adult Literacy Professional Development ProjectCollaboration has been shown through research to be an effective strategy both in the classroom and in program management. This CALPRO Research Brief examines the research as it applies to both Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at the program level, and to classroom instruction, and finds that in both applications collaboration improves outcomes.

How can you prepare your learners to succeed in the workforce? Find out what employers say are essential skills for today's workforce. This series shows you how to connect transferable skills in the classroom to the workplace. There are two sessions; each session is broken into two parts (4 webinars total). This series will provide background on skills transferable from the classroom to the workplace and to teach students how to articulate those skills.  Registration information: This event is not currently scheduled. Registration will become available once this topic is scheduled. 

Course Description:This course takes place entirely online and runs for four consecutive weeks. Weekly participation is required, though participants may, during a given week, log in whenever they wish. A kick-off Webinar will take place in the first week; the date and time will be announced and posted. This course is intended to (1)build teachers’ capacity to identify the skills and knowledge required for excellent teaching as presented in the Adult Education Teacher Competencies, (2) evaluate in which areas participants are strong and in which areas professional development could support improvement, and (3) plan for increasing effectiveness of instruction. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate of participation (14 hours); they are also eligible to apply to CSUS for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they wish.Goals:By the end of the course participants will be able to: • Explain the background and rationale for Adult Education Teacher Competencies • Recognize performance indicators in practice • Create a sample illustration related to a specific program area • Identify the competencies from domains 1 and 3 in practice • Relate selected competencies to classroom practice • Create an initial professional development goalRegistration 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.

Join us for an insightful webinar focused on promoting math identity in adult learners and embracing productive struggle in mathematics. Research shows that students who lack confidence in math often give up when faced with challenges, mistakenly thinking that struggling indicates a lack of intelligence. Although struggle can conflict with educators’ notions of successful teaching, struggle and mistakes are the best times for brain growth and are a necessary component of learning and understanding. Teaching that embraces and uses productive struggle leads to long-term benefits, with students more able to apply their learning to new problem situations. This research forum webinar explores ways to foster a positive math identity and embrace productive struggle in adult education classrooms.

Hosted by Rowland Adult and Community EducationJoin us for an insightful webinar focused on promoting math identity in adult learners and embracing productive struggle in mathematics. Research shows that students who lack confidence in math often give up when faced with challenges, mistakenly thinking that struggling indicates a lack of intelligence. Although struggle can conflict with educators’ notions of successful teaching, struggle and mistakes are the best times for brain growth and are a necessary component of learning and understanding. Teaching that embraces and uses productive struggle helps students apply their learning to new problems and situations. This research forum webinar explores ways to foster a positive math identity and embrace productive struggle in adult education classrooms.

Hosted by MVLA Adult SchoolData-informed instruction empowers educators to make evidence-based decisions and positively impact student outcomes. Effective planning involves aligning instructional goals with student needs identified through data analysis. Critical questions we ask include (a) What do we want students to learn? (b) How will we know if they have learned it? (c) What will we do if they don’t learn it? (d) What will we do if they already know it? In this introductory workshop, participants will review how to build assessments to measure outcomes and investigate data types needed to find trends and gaps.The second part of the session focuses on inclusive teaching strategies to address the outcome gaps. Participants will walk away with evidence-based instructional strategies. Participants may choose one of the strategies to incorporate into their classroom routine and design a lesson plan using backward design.

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. 

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.

Join us for Part 2 of our two-part series on enhancing math instruction in adult education. This webinar focuses on the concept of productive struggle in mathematics, building on our previous session on Promoting Positive Math Identity. Reframe mistakes and struggle as part of natural learning. Discover strategies to help students persevere through challenging problems, fostering deeper understanding. Join us to enhance your teaching practices to support student growth.