Presented By: Karin Bates

English learners with basic conversational skills are often eager to discuss and learn about racism, equity, and justice. However, few opportunities exist to explore these topics in safe, structured settings, and language teachers are sometimes unprepared to effectively facilitate these conversations. This webinar will provide teachers with tools and ideas to encourage critical conversations about race, equity, and justice in their adult English classes. Access to materials to use in the classroom will be shared.

Presented By: Amanda Bergson Shilcock, LaToya Newson, Kim Vitelli, Becky Raymond, and Sharon Bonney

A recent policy guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Labor has the potential to significantly increase adult learners’ access to workforce development services. Adult educators can take advantage of this opportunity to help their learners access these valuable opportunities by working more closely with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I service providers. In this webinar, hear from federal officials and experienced adult education advocates about the new Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) issued to Workforce Development Boards and American Job Centers. This TEGL is titled Reducing Administrative Barriers to Improve Customer Experience in Grant Programs Administered by the Employment and Training Administration. It clarifies existing federal policy and will reassure providers about when and how they can serve newly arrived immigrants, individuals returning from incarceration, unhoused individuals, and other learners who may lack identity documents and/or work authorization.

Presented By: Betsy Ljubic

This webinar explores research on spaced retrieval practice and how to apply it to strategies that help adult ELLs make meaningful connections with new vocabulary words to retain those vocabulary words long term. Participants will walk away with three practical activities that can be implemented immediately.

Presented By: Laura Axtell

Discover the transformative power of scientific research in English language instruction. This webinar delves into two crucial areas of study, the science of reading and the science of learning, offering invaluable insights for educators working with multilingual learners. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of evidence-based practices and explore practical strategies to accelerate English acquisition in adult education and correctional settings. Join us in unlocking the potential of scientific approaches in enhancing language and literacy development.

Presented By: Ronald Cruz

Sometimes it’s the little things students ignore that could mean the difference between passing or failing the GED® Mathematical Reasoning Test. This session will focus on what teachers need to pay attention to in terms of what students do during problem solving exercises that could help significantly improve students’ performance on the test. This session will also suggest strategies on how to break those bad math habits and provide tips to sustain effective problem-solving practices.

Presented By: Chris Bourret, Judy Mortrude, and Sophie Tan

Adult educators have been expanding the way they measure, document, and report learning gains. Recently updated National Reporting System (NRS) tables provide more opportunity to measure learning outside of traditional post-testing. Learn how one state collaborated with their program leaders to create guidance for Measurable Skill Gain types 3-5 and more. Explore OCTAE leadership’s vision for modernizing adult education and the new NRS flexibilities. Consider the opportunities for your state, program, and learners!

NOTE: This session was previously presented on April 23, 2024 via World Education/JSI. 

Presented By: Laura Axtell

Most adults with dyslexia don’t even know they have it. During this interactive webinar, Laura will provide attendees with information about dyslexia and share a simple screening instrument to identify characteristics of dyslexia in adults. She will provide research-based reading instruction methods and additional resources that are highly effective for adult learners with dyslexia.

Presented By: Benjamin Rose

How can we help our students meet the challenges of GED® and HiSET® writing tasks? Find out in this interactive webinar as we start with quick writes, continue with argument essay analysis, and finish with frames, models, and graphic organizers. We will also discuss why students may not score well on HSE writing tasks and share best practice solutions.

Presented By: Sharon Bonney, Sarah Wheeler, Dr. Robert McLaughlin, John Windhausen, and Jenelle Leonard

In this interactive webinar, panelists will brief state and local adult education leaders about unprecedented opportunities to tap funding for programs through $770 million coming to states and territories. This funding will be released over the next three years to implement each state’s federally approved digital equity plan. Participants will also explore how to leverage $42.5 billion in federal funds, such as bringing affordable broadband to many underserved areas, opening up new opportunities for online and hybrid learning for adult educators and students, intensifying training to foster digital navigator positions, and upskilling digital literacy and cyber safety skills. Participants will learn how to find out when their state is issuing requests for bids to deliver such training.

Presented By: Laura Axtell

Tackle one of the toughest hurdles in adult and correctional education: helping those with low reading skills become proficient readers and writers. Join this webinar to learn a simple foundational literacy framework to empower non-readers, multilingual learners, and students below 6th-grade reading levels. Discover evidence-based teaching models, valuable resources, and strategies for quickly acquiring skills to decode and comprehend complex texts. Let’s remedy the adult reading rift together!

Presented By: Jessie Stadd, Laura Rasmussen Foster, and Blaire Willson Toso

Join OCTAE’s Enhancing Access for Refugees and New Americans (EARN) project as we highlight and discuss newly available and upcoming resources to support IELCE implementation. EARN resources include videos, spotlights on effective practices, and guides and tools to support implementation on the topics of immigrant integration, the components of IELCE/IET, instructional delivery approaches, and learner-centered approaches.

Presented By: Dan Griffith

We are at the edge of a new frontier in education! As tablet technology and secure internet access is growing in jails across the U.S., the ability to deliver a new level of educational opportunities grows as well. There are now more than 700,000 tablets deployed in prisons and jails across the country. This delivery mechanism is changing the way adult education providers can partner with jails to impact their communities. Join this session to see the cutting-edge technology, learn ways in which your program can innovate jail education, and develop a plan for beginning or enhancing jail education in your community.

Presented By: Sharon Bonney, Erin Vobornik, Jeff Abramowitz, and Shaketta Thomas

Advocacy April is a great time to raise visibility in your local program, community, and state! Join us for this short and informative live session with tools and skills you can put to use right away!

Presented By: Coach Alisa Smedley

Attendees will receive information about how real-world role plays can assist adult learners. Helping students to anticipate and deal with issues prior to release strengthens their chance for successful reentry. Role plays can utilize the themes – life skills, employment, education, and family. A tool for how to create unique role play activities will also be shared.

Presented By: Celina Shands

Whether your marketing goals include efforts to recruit adult learners, partner with community influencers, engage employers, or gain the attention from journalists, the truth is that if you don’t have the foundational elements of brand building strategies in place, the opportunities to get in front of the right people at the right time greatly diminishes.

Join us for this free webinar to learn more about The Brand Amplifier process, where we will share the foundational elements of how to elevate your brand through integrated marketing and communications strategies.

Participants are entered into a raffle to win a seat in FCM’s online course, and we will offer a few freebie bonuses and some live coaching during the webinar, including time-saving social media and AI resources.

Presented By: Kim Glenn, Sarah Goldammer, Steve Schmidt in a COABE and AALPD partnership

Sharing your knowledge and expertise at COABE is a priceless present you provide to the adult education community. Preparing for your presentation is key to promoting success. Join this webinar to learn about persistent preparation, passionate performance, and plentiful participation as you ponder the three P’s of powerful presentations. Resources will be provided and an opportunity for individual coaching will be proffered.

Presented By: Ji Soo Song, Catalina Gonzalez, Shirley Doan, and Sharon Bonney

In 2024, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will announce new programs to help eligible entities pursue activities to advance digital equity in their communities. To prepare the adult education sector for this upcoming opportunity, this webinar series invites adult education leaders at the state, local, and institution levels to build their awareness of the relevant policy context and learn why this issue is relevant to their stakeholders. To further support adult education leaders in seeing themselves as a critical component of this national focus on digital equity, the 2-part webinar series will feature a panel of experts to showcase diverse “possibility models” of successful and replicable strategies from around the country. Finally, this webinar will preview and prepare participants for a digital equity workshop session to be held at the COABE National Conference. 

Presented By: Drew Robinson

Join us to learn how ESL instructors are implementing the Learning Upgrade app in their classes to drive rapid growth in reading, writing, and math. Learn how to deploy an effective Learning Circles model using WhatsApp groups to broaden access to underserved adults. Witness how learners accelerate growth with “binge learning” at home using their smartphones, and gain insights into how instructors track progress and inspire learners. This webinar is tailored for adult education professionals keen on exploring app-based learning in their ESL programs.

Presented By: Celina Shands & Anika Jackson

Learn how to reposition your adult education organization from being undervalued and overlooked to a highly relevant organization that gets its deserved share of funding, recognition and enrollments. We’ll layout the steps to develop a compelling brand story, and you’ll learn from case studies on how repositioning strategies helped garner leads to boost enrollments. Get a solid roadmap to reposition the adult education mission within your community so that it is valued and respected.

Did you know there is a turnkey solution that helps you build an effective adult education brand and boost enrollments? Case studies will help you replicate in your area. This webinar is part 4 of the 4 part series “Building an Effective Adult Education Brand”.

Presented By: Jen Denton

When educators collaborate, students succeed! Join us as we explore the findings of a year-long adult student retention study led by the Essential Education Professional Learning Community. Discover powerful strategies to keep students in class and on track to reach their goals. Celebrate the achievements of our COABE Adult Student Retention Specialists and learn from their valuable experiences. Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or simply passionate about adult education, this webinar offers a unique opportunity to gain practical retention tools and applaud the dedication of those at the forefront of fostering adult student success.

Presented By: Ji Soo Song, Ashly Winkle, Sammy Lowdermilk, Dawn Hannah, Catalina Gonzalez, Shirley Doan, and Sharon Bonney

In 2024, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will announce new programs to help eligible entities pursue activities to advance digital equity in their communities. To prepare the adult education sector for this upcoming opportunity, this webinar series invites adult education leaders at the state, local, and institution levels to build their awareness of the relevant policy context and learn why this issue is relevant to their stakeholders. To further support adult education leaders in seeing themselves as a critical component of this national focus on digital equity, the 2-part webinar series will feature a panel of experts to showcase diverse “possibility models” of successful and replicable strategies from around the country. Finally, this webinar will preview and prepare participants for a digital equity workshop session to be held at the COABE National Conference. 

Presented By: Elizabeth Payne Harner

Learn key takeaways about leadership in adult learning programs, including what it means to be a collaborative, results-driven leader. Take stock in what works for your program and what buy-in practices can help improve program retention and overall results. Key takeaways include leading with a growth mindset, collaborative problem-solving practices, and student-centered community building.

Presented By: Dr. Kate Rolander

This webinar will present a step-by-step deep dive into how one state built a culture of IET through professional development, peer networks, data sharing, and partnerships. In this session, we’ll share examples of IET implementation guidance, professional development, IET checklists, IET data sharing, and intentional networking spaces that lead to high quality and sustainable IET programming across a wide range of learner populations and industry clusters in both urban and rural communities.  

Presented By: Celina Shands & Anika Jackson

Learn how to reposition your adult education organization from being undervalued and overlooked to a highly relevant organization that gets its deserved share of funding, recognition and enrollments. We’ll layout the steps to develop a compelling brand story, and you’ll learn from case studies on how repositioning strategies helped garner leads to boost enrollments. Get a solid roadmap to reposition the adult education mission within your community so that it is valued and respected.

Earned media is a highly effective tool to expand your reach about your adult education mission. Learn three strategies that will give you a jump start on working within your local community media landscape and beyond. This webinar is part 3 of the 4 part series “Building an Effective Adult Education Brand”.   

Presented By: Dr. Anthony Mangiafico & Kristin Hempel

Do you have $1,000 to spend on recruiting new students to your program? Do you have no money at all? Come learn both free and paid ways to boost the number of students you have in your program. Hear what the Connecticut Association for Adult and Continuing Education did as a state, and what several local programs did with limited funding. Print, TV, mail, digital marketing, and social media will be discussed.

Presented By: Cynthia Peters & Jen Denton

Adult education students have strong transferable skills (aka, soft skills). They just don’t know it yet! Leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills are being cultivated daily by hard-working adult learners. Employers value and seek these crucial competencies. In this webinar, we’ll share powerful student-written stories and classroom activities that demonstrate simple ways to teach basic skills in a way that enables students to identify and amplify the transferable skills essential for employability.