FREE!
Adult Education Professional Development Opportunities for
August 2024
VALRC PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS MONTH
The following professional development opportunities are offered to Virginia adult education practitioners as well as adult education partner organizations.
During the summer months, VALRC offers a limited number of live, synchronous PD options, so we have also included our asynchronous PD options for this month.
Adult Education in Virginia
This one-hour, adult education overview was created as a resource for teachers, staff, and partners who want to learn more about the field of adult education in Virginia.
Adult ESOL Foundations
This two-hour, self-paced tutorial was designed to introduce or reintroduce adult educators and practitioners to foundational adult English language instructional tenets, practices, and strategies in order to broaden or deepen the understanding of foundational adult English language instruction.
Five Components of Accessibility
In this one-hour, self-paced tutorial you will learn about the five main components of accessibility. These components include: color-contrast, hyperlinks, alt-text, tables, and headings.
See VALRC's Self-Paced Tutorial site for more information on registering for these offerings.
VALRC's Resource Highlight
This resource provides tutorial videos and important information about the state’s new data system.
This google folder contains curated resources for the science of reading, including assessments and each component of reading (alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). Many of these resources are open-source from other agencies. VALRC staff are continually adding new resources to the folder, so check back often!
This page contains a video tutorial, resources, and guidance documents for teachers, program managers, and learners to get the most out of the adult education courses in Virtual Virginia. The Virginia Department of Education has partnered with Virtual Virginia to develop 9 online courses for adult learners in 3 content areas: English language arts, mathematics, and English language acquisition.
This online guide provides information for instructors who are new to adult education in Virginia and may also be useful for returning instructors. The resources connect instructors to the field of adult education and provide information on quality instruction for the adult education context. It includes featured resources by subject area, information on essential topics such as standards-based instruction and inclusive practices, and an updated Adult Education Glossary and Acronym List.
When it comes to adult learners who have a disability, we oftentimes don’t know what we don’t know. Some of our learners are comfortable sharing with us that they have a learning or mobility-impacted disability. Others, however, are reluctant to disclose information about a disability—or, they have never been identified as having a disability. The Spring 2024 issue of PROGRESS goes beyond lists of accommodations and strategies to focus on shifting our instructional and programmatic designs toward a culture of inclusion through collaborative activities that create equitable adult education programming that benefits all learners.
Read the latest edition of SPOTLIGHT, Virginia's publication of writing by adult learners. SPOTLIGHT's third annual issue features more than 50 contributions from adult learners across Virginia, including poetry, inspiring personal stories, visions for the future, and more. SPOTLIGHT showcases the value adult learners place on education and the strengths they bring to our communities.
REGISTER NOW: VAACE's 2024 Conference
Now register for VAACE's 2024 conference, scheduled for October 21-23 in Charlottesville!
Additional Fall 2024 Conferences
VATESOL, Richmond, VA on Sept. 27 & 28
ProLiteracy, Baltimore, MD, on Oct. 6-9
National Center for Families Learning (NCFL), Louisville, KY, on Nov. 18-20
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS MONTH
The following webinars are offered by various adult education organizations and are all FREE to attend. Click the Register button below the event description to sign up for any webinars of interest.
AUGUST
1
12:30–1:30 p.m. EST
LINCS: Aphasia: What it is and Accommodations to Support Learners
A National Institutes of Health survey found that 84.5% of Americans have never heard the term “Aphasia”, yet there are 180,000 new aphasia cases a year in the U.S. Join us to learn about this language-based disorder and gain some instructional best practices and resources to support learners both in and outside of the classroom.
AUGUST
5
3–4 p.m. EST
LINCS: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for IET (Integrated Education and Training)
With IETs expanding all over the United States in community and correctional programs it's a great opportunity to "scream" about all the great work everyone is doing.
ADVANCE IET subject matter experts Chrissie Klinger, Wendy Scheder Black, Kate Daly Rolander will be ready to discuss how to blend all those components of IET together effectively AND how to get that "cherry on top" with key partnerships.
AUGUST
6
2–3 p.m. EST
COABE: Improving Adult Learners’ Attitudes and Odds for Workplace Success
Participate in thought-provoking discussion and activities that introduce habits, skills, and strategies your students need to get a job and succeed. Discover how you can incorporate activities like these in your classroom to equip your students for the workplace.
AUGUST
7
3–4:15 p.m. EST
LINCS: The Mirroring Project: An Innovative Approach for Teaching English Pronunciation
Teaching pronunciation to adult English learners is important, but it can be challenging. On August 7 at 3:00 ET, join our guest presenters Suzanne Gilchrist McCurdy, ELA teacher, and Colleen M. Meyers, Education Specialist with the University of Minnesota who will introduce an innovative approach called "Mirroring," which has the potential to increase the communication skills of English learners. If you’re an ELA teacher this LINCS event will be a great way to receive practical guidance and support to teach English pronunciation to your students.
AUGUST
14
2–3:15 p.m. ET
LINCS: Effective Instruction for English Learners with Limited Formal Schooling: Uncovering a Hidden Agenda
Do you have adult English learners who have limited formal schooling in your class? Do you have questions about how to effectively support these learners with the language skills they need to achieve their goals? International expert, Dr. Helaine Marshall, will share highly effective approaches for teaching this population of learners. She will also identify approaches to avoid. Participants will leave with a treasure trove of ideas and resources to implement in the classroom.
AUGUST
19
2–3 p.m. ET
COABE: Setting the GPS: Creating a Career Success Focused Webinar Series for Adult Learners
Come learn how to design and implement a webinar series for your adult learners ready to enter and re-enter the workforce. This webinar will explore salient topics and formats as well as ways to evaluate the impact of this professional development opportunity. Help your adult learners learn how to navigate towards success in their positions.
AUGUST
20
3:30–4:30 p.m. ET
LINCS: Understanding the Science of Reading
Confused about the Science of Reading (SOR) and how to apply its principles to instruction in your adult education program? Join LINCS moderators Steve Schmidt, Dr. Carmine Stewart, and Dr. Kathy Tracey as they unpack the SOR and provide information on LINCS resources that will help elevate your reading instruction.
AUGUST
22
1–2 p.m. ET
IDEAL Consortium Open Conference
The Innovating Digital Education in Adult Learning (IDEAL) Consortium is excited to announce that registration for The IDEAL Edtech Innovations Open Conference is now available! The IDEAL Edtech Innovations Conference is open and free and helps participants deepen their knowledge about digital education for adult learners. Throughout the half-day event, participants can choose to attend lightning talks or participate in an EdTech Maker Space focused on GenAI. There will be ample opportunities for engaging in dialog with subject matter experts and your peers from across the US. IDEAL Consortium member attendees will have access to workshops to help them leverage IDEAL professional development resources.
AUGUST
23
12–1 p.m. ET
LINCS: Digital Resilience in the American Workforce (DRAW): Learn with me
Have you wondered what digital resilience means? Have you wondered how you could improve and gain better access and comfort using your digital skills while doing the same for your learners? Join LINCS Professional Development Group for a walk though Digital Resilience in the American Workforce (DRAW) resources to include research, Professional development and instructional tools.
AUGUST
29
10–11:30 a.m. ET
Office of New Americans: Shaping our Immigrants Future
Join a special presentation by the Immigrant Services Team of the Office of New Americans for an overview of Virginia’s immigrant population. Get ready to explore the vibrant immigrant community in Virginia and discover valuable resources for employment, housing, healthcare, education, and citizenship.
Brought to you by:
THE VIRGINIA ADULT LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
"Equipping the field of adult education and literacy with essential skills and resources through an equity mindset."
