Universal Design for Learning: Learning that Works for All (Self-Directed Online)
Course Description:
This self-directed course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about.
The purpose of this course is to identify how research-based learning strategies can increase engagement and access for all learners. Through this learning module, adult educators are introduced to the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines, which provide a framework to help educators create learning spaces which work better for all students. Additionally, the course presents straightforward strategies that educators can use to start implementing UDL immediately. The estimated course completion time is 1.5 hours.
Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.
Registration Information:
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.
Contact Information:
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.
Engaging and Motivating Today’s Adult Learners
Hosted by ABC Adult School
Today’s adult education classrooms are welcoming a growing number of younger learners whose high‑school years were impacted by pandemic‑era disruptions. This three‑hour workshop equips educators with practical, evidence‑based strategies for engaging today's adult learners. Drawing on CALPRO’s motivation and persistence for adult learners training, participants will explore how to set clear and high expectations, build trust through social‑emotional learning, support goal setting and self‑management, and design student-centered learning experiences that engage all students.
The session also highlights active learning approaches—such as providing autonomy, collaborative learning, and contextualized instruction—that resonate strongly with today’s learners with varied needs. Educators will leave with ready‑to‑use strategies to motivate, connect with, and support all students in their classrooms.
Registration Information:
This tailored regional CoP is designed for the staff and teachers at ABC Adult School. Registration through the school is required.
There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees.
Engaging and Motivating Today’s Adult Learners
Hosted by the San Joaquin Adult Education Consortium
Today’s adult education classrooms are welcoming a growing number of younger learners whose high‑school years were impacted by pandemic‑era disruptions. This two‑hour workshop equips educators with practical, evidence‑based strategies for engaging today's adult learners. Drawing on CALPRO’s motivation and persistence for adult learners training, participants will explore how to set clear and high expectations, build trust through social‑emotional learning, support goal setting and self‑management, and design student-centered learning experiences that engage all students.
The session also highlights active learning approaches—such as collaborative learning and contextualized instruction—that resonate strongly with today’s learners with varied needs. Educators will leave with ready‑to‑use strategies to motivate, connect with, and support all students in their classrooms.
Registration Information:
This tailored regional CoP is designed for the staff and teachers within the San Joaquin Adult Education Consortium. Registration through the consortium is required.
There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees.
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
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.