Digital Equity for Adult Learners: Seize the Moment!
8:45-10:15 AM
In January 2024, Massachusetts submitted its Digital Equity Plan for federal approval. Later this year, the state will receive funding to implement the plan over the next five years. At this unique moment – with the federal spotlight on digital equity and inclusion – how can adult educators, learners, and other stakeholders collaborate to center the perspectives and needs of our communities? Drawing on lessons learned and resources developed through World Education’s Transforming Immigrant Digital Equity project, we’ll discuss how adult education can lead the way – from state-level advocacy to regional collaborations, from rethinking local programming to centering student voice. Participants will have the opportunity to explore practical tools, reflect on connections to their work, and strategize how we can be a critical leader and partner in Massachusetts’ digital equity ecosystem.
Presenters: Shirley Doan, Catalina González, Pesha Black
Hands-on Exploration: MA Professional Standards (ELA and Math)
10:45-12:15 PM
Join us to learn more about the ELA and Math Proficiency Guides, which apply the Massachusetts ABE Professional Standards specifically to content-area instruction. In this hands-on session, we’ll engage with helpful resources to examine how the ABE Professional Standards and Proficiency Guides connect to classroom practice, and explore how they can be used to reflect on your own teaching practice, prioritize professional goals, and improve student outcomes. You’ll leave this session with practical tools and resources to help you identify any ELA or Math PD or coaching needs and with an understanding of how these materials can support your classroom instruction.
Presenters: Evonne Peters, Heidi Schuler-Jones
Enhancing Student Motivation
10:45-12:15 PM
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a form of empathic dialogue for strengthening a person’s own motivation and commitment to change that can be used in adult education advising and teaching. It is designed to strengthen an individual’s motivation to meet their goals by eliciting and exploring a student’s own reasons for change and exploring the resistance that arises in the process. This interactive workshop will introduce the audience to how MI can be used in adult education classrooms and advising offices. Participants will understand the central tenets of the approach and will familiarize themselves with several skills used in this method. Participants can expect a dynamic presentation and lots of interaction.
Presenters: Andjela Kaur, Dani Scherer
Culturally Responsive Teaching in ABE/ASE English Language Arts
10:45-12:15 PM
How can ABE/ASE teachers incorporate culturally responsive teaching into their ELA practice? Participants will explore three goals of culturally responsive teaching, make connections to adult learning theory, and consider how culturally responsive teaching enhances students’ learning experiences and outcomes. Participants will walk away with tools, resources, and a practical process for using a culturally responsive approach to enrich ELA teaching and learning.
Presenters: Karen Greaves
Learner Pathways to Digital Literacy with Northstar
1:45-3:15 PM
Do you administer Northstar Digital Literacy assessments at your program? Are you looking for ways to leverage the results with your students? Representatives from three MA programs will share promising practices and approaches to using Northstar to integrate digital learning and help students meet their goals. After the panel, you will have the opportunity to exchange and evaluate ideas with your peers and the panelists in small groups. With the support of other participants and the panelists, you will start drafting a plan to take back to your program to finalize with your colleagues.
Presenters: Kathleen O’Connell, Diana Satin
Boston’s DigLit Initiative: Empowering ABE with Digital Literacy
3:30-5:00 PM
This session delves into the DigLit Initiative spotlighting its latest development, the Edtech Strategy Routine Library. The library represents the culmination of a multiyear capacity-building endeavor, aimed at supporting Boston’s adult education providers in delivering quality digital literacy skill training and seamlessly integrating technology into their programs.
Presenters: Brooke Machado, Sarah Soroui, Catalina González
A Pathway to Disability Inclusive Adult Education Programs
3:30-5:00 PM
This interactive session combines practical tools and strategies with foundational ideas in disability studies to support more disability-inclusive programming. Becoming more disability inclusive in our adult education programs and classrooms benefits all students, whether or not they have a disclosed or diagnosed disability. When adult education programs become more disability inclusive, they support students in taking charge of their own learning journey. This session combines resource sharing and small and large group discussion with hands-on practice. Participants will learn about the components of a disability-inclusive program, review the tools developed for the adult education program within the Basic Disability Screening for Adult Education Guide and will practice using The Basic Accessibility Checklist for ADA Coordinators and Administrators to recognize their own program’s strengths and areas for development. Upon completion of this session, the participants will be able to articulate the components of the disability inclusive process, identify disability-conscious activities to use with learners, explain the purpose of the Basic Disability Screening for Adult Education tools and apply the Basic Accessibility Checklist for ADA Coordinators and Administrators to their own program.
Presenters: Dani Scherer, Andjela Kaur
