Resources
Orientation for Nevada Adult Education Teachers
A 3-hour, self-directed online course designed for new adult education instructors in Nevada. Learn more>>
Key Resources on Priority Professional Development Topics
 

The following provides a brief description and hyperlinks to several essential resources for adult education teachers and administrators.

 

Distance Learning and Teaching Resources
 

This page provides a set of curated resources to support adult educators in distance learning, ranging from online instruction, to digital literacy and inclusion, to mobile learning via smartphones.   More >>

 

Family Literacy
 

The purpose of family literacy programs is “to strengthen the literacy skills of the whole family by providing interconnected and skill-appropriate services” (Severson-Irby & Clymer, 2022, p. 4). Using an intergenerational literacy approach, these programs work to improve the literacy of generations of family members and promote lifelong learning. Programs are structured to provide opportunities for children and adults learn separately to work on their own literacy skills and together to enhance family literacy and learning. Additionally, adults may learn about their children’s health and educational development and how to support that. Digital and financial literacy are often a focus as well.

 

  • Family Literacy: Basics and Best Practices (01:26:00)
    Archived webinar from April 22, 2022



    Facilitators: Dr. Carol Clymer, Co-Director
    Dr. Elisabeth McLean, Assistant Teaching Professor, Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy, Penn State University
    Elizabeth Severson-Irby, Literacy Specialist, Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
    In this webinar, Carol Clymer, Elizabeth Severson-Irby, and Beth McLean discussed the basics of and best practices in family literacy. They also highlighted a great resource, From scratch: Using AEFLA funds to develop a family literacy program, which was developed through a collaboration between the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy and the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Competencies and Standards
 
  • Adult Education Teacher Competencies (2015)
    https://lincs.ed.gov/publications/te/competencies.pdf
    This document outlines the core knowledge and skills that adult education teachers need to succeed in their roles. The Adult Education Teacher Competencies help teachers improve their effectiveness and learner outcomes. They also assist instructional leaders, professional developers, and teacher preparation faculty prepare effective professional development activities for teachers.
     
  • College and Career Readiness Standards (2013)
    https://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/CCRStandardsAdultEd.pdf
    This document presents a set of college and career readiness standards (CCRS) of the content that is most relevant for preparing adult students to succeed in colleges, technical training programs, work and citizenship—in the areas of English language arts/literacy and mathematics. These standards were derived from the Common Core State Standards.
     
  • English Language Proficiency Standards (2016)
    https://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/elp-standards-adult-ed.pdf
    Designed to support effective instruction of adult English language learners, this document presents a set of correspondences to the college and career readiness standards (CCRS) for English language arts/literacy, mathematical and science practices.
     
Standards in Action (SIA) 2.0 Roll-Out

 

Many curricula on the market are identified as standards-aligned, but little is provided to substantiate that designation. So how do teachers know which ones are and to what extent? The Standards-in-Action 2.0 project, an initiative funded by the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, was designed to help programs answer that question. Over the course of 5 months, 7 teachers from programs across Nevada participated in this training to learn how to determine whether curricula are high-quality and aligned to critical aspects of Nevada's academic standards for English language arts (ELA)/literacy and math. They also learned how to assess the degree to which curricula will support English learners (ELs) in accessing core academic content. The online training archived below represents the first step in a statewide initiative to roll out the SIA 2.0 training to all program leaders and teachers in Nevada.

 

Presenters:
Arianna Florence, Nevada Department of Education
Marcela Movit, American Institutes for Research
Mariann Fedele-McLeod, American Institutes for Research
Christina Romeo, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
Michelle Holstein, Clarke County Library program
Ana Arieli, College of Southern Nevada
Curtis Cobbins, College of Southern Nevada
Jennifer Oh, College of Southern Nevada
John Drewno, Western Nevada College

 

Standards in Action (SIA) 2.0 Roll-Out, Day 1

Archived webinar from Aug. 3, 2020
 

  • Day 1, Part 1 (81 min.)

  • After an overview of the newly released course that introduces the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) and the English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education, presenters described the Standards-in-Action (SIA) 2.0 initiative funded by the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. Participants heard from the presenters about some of the dimensions for analyzing ELA curricula identified by the project.

  • Day 1, Part 2 (73 min.)

  • Participants heard about additional dimensions for analyzing ELA curricula. The presenters shared the impact participation in the project has had on their instruction and then participants had an opportunity to discuss the connections between the curriculum dimensions for English language arts (ELA) identified through the SIA 2.0 project and the CCRS. Participants also learned how to apply the SIA 2.0 project’s process for analyzing an ELA curriculum.

 

Standards in Action (SIA) 2.0 Roll-Out, Day 2

Archived webinar from Aug. 4, 2020
 

  • Day 2, Part 1 (76 min.)

  • The presenters introduced the curriculum dimensions for math identified through the SIA 2.0 project and shared the impact their participation in the project has had on their instruction. Participants discussed the connections between these and the CCRS and learned how to apply the SIA 2.0 project's process for analyzing a math curriculum.

  • Day 2, Part 2 (43 min.)

  • In small groups, participants in the training had the opportunity to practice analyzing an ELA or math curriculum using the SIA 2.0 project’s process. They shared their experience with the process and some takeaways before the state director discussed next steps for the project.

 

Data and Accountability
 
  • Administering TABE Tests Remotely (50 minutes)
    Archived webinar from November 17, 2020

    Michael Johnson, National Adult Education Director with Data Recognition Corporation, Chicago, IL
    In this training, Michael Johnson, National Adult Education Director with Data Recognition Corporation, provides guidance regarding how to administer both TABE 11/12 and CLAS-E remotely.
     
  • National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS) [www]
    The National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS) is the accountability system for federally funded adult education programs, authorized by Section 212 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The NRS website provides numerous PD resources and includes state snapshots (see Nevada state snapshot).
     
  • Using Data for Program Improvement (90 min.)
    Archived webinar from Feb. 1, 2018

    Dr. Larry Condelli, American Institutes for Research
    The presenter discusses the many uses of data and explains how adult education administrators can use data for program improvement. The webinar features Nevada-specific data reporting tables.
     
  • Using Data to Improve Instruction (90 min.)
    Archived webinar from Feb. 8, 2018

    Amanda Duffy, American Institutes for Research
    The presenter discusses the many uses of data and explains how adult education teachers can use data to improve instruction. The webinar features Nevada-specific data reporting tables.
     
  • Recent Changes in the National Reporting System (52 min.)
    Archived webinar from Nov. 27, 2018

    Dr. Larry Condelli, American Institutes for Research
    The presenter gave an overview of recent decisions to change to the National Reporting System (NRS) tables and outlined new requirements for adult education programs. These changes go into effect as of Jan. 1, 2019.
     
Workforce Preparation and Career Pathways
 
Integrated Education and Training
 

Integrated Education and Training (IET) is an innovative combination of education and job skills training, used to transition adult learners beyond adult basic education and through a career pathway that can offer them job training and eventual gainful employment.
 

Contextualized Instruction
 

Contextualized instruction connects basic skills education in meaningful ways to students’ career training, career goals, and life/family goals. This can be done by incorporating materials students use in their workforce training or workforce preparation activities into basic skills courses.
 

  • Preparing English learners for work and career pathways: Issue brief. (2015)
    https://lincs.ed.gov/sites/default/files/ELL_Context_Instruction_508.pdf
    Author: Wrigley, H. S.
    This issue brief identifies several considerations for serving adult English language learners in the workforce. The brief also offers implementation models together with practical ideas for contextualizing instruction to career pathways.
     
Evidence-based Reading Instruction
 
  • Evidence Based Reading Instruction Webinar (42:06 minutes)
    Archived webinar from February 18, 2021

    DeAnne Berryhill – Center Director at Sylvan Learning Center
    This one hour webinar serves as an overview of Evidence Based Reading Instruction, its purpose, and where to begin. Nancy Olsen of Nevada Department of Education also presents about STAR and an upcoming opportunity for further STAR training.
     
  • Applying Research In Reading Instruction for Adults: First Steps for Teachers (2005) (PDF)
    The publication was developed through the National Center on Family Literacy’s Family Partnership in Reading Project. The extensive guide supports new and seasoned teachers in understanding what reading is, how to teach each of the components, how to assess students in reading and planning for the development of evidence-based reading lesson plans.
     
  • Meeting the Language Needs of Today’s Adult English Language Learner: Companion Learning Resource (2005) (PDF)
    This Companion Learning Resource, Meeting the Language Needs of Today’s Adult English Language Learner, presents numerous examples of instructional models, strategies, tools, and tasks for increasing the rigor of adult English language instruction. It also extends and expands upon these resources by offering many practical ideas and techniques that practitioners can use and adapt in order to increase rigor in adult ELA classes.
     
  • Professional Development Videos:
  • Newsela [www]
    Continuously updated, this site provides free current events news stories at a variety of levels. Materials can be used to differentiate reading instruction by using high-quality, age- and level-appropriate texts.
     
Self-Directed Online Courses for Teachers
 
Increasing Rigor in Instruction for English Language Learners

 

Description:  The purpose of this course is to help teachers increase the rigor of the instruction they provide English language learners (ELLs), regardless of whether the class is an English as a Second Language (ESL) class, an Adult Basic Education (ABE) class or something else.

 

Course Platform and Location:  This self-paced, self-directed online course is delivered through Moodle, an open-source learning management system. The login page appears here: https://airtslearn.airprojects.org/. To obtain log-in credentials, contact the course administrator to enroll (see below).

 

Enrollment:  Teachers interested in taking this course should send their name, program and agency name, and preferred email address to course administrator. In the subject line of the message, teachers should write “Enrollment request, Increasing Rigor in Instruction for English Language Learners”. Within one business day, teachers will receive individual log-in instructions.
 

Orientation for Nevada Adult Education Teachers

 

Description:  This 3-hour online course is designed by the American Institutes for Research for new adult education instructors in Nevada. The course goal is to orient teachers to essential aspects of their jobs and to help them understand their work and responsibilities within the larger context of adult education instruction.

 

Course Platform and Location:  This self-paced, self-directed online course is delivered through Moodle, an open-source learning management system. The login page appears here: https://airtslearn.airprojects.org/. To obtain log-in credentials, contact the course administrator to enroll (see below).

 

Enrollment:  Teachers interested in taking this course should send their name, program and agency name, and preferred email address to course administrator. In the subject line of the message, teachers should write “Enrollment request, Nevada Adult Education Teacher Orientation”. Within one business day, teachers will receive individual log-in instructions.
 

Introduction to Adult Education Standards

 

Description: This 3-hour online course is designed by the American Institutes for Research for all adult education instructors in Nevada. The course goal is to introduce teachers to the importance of standards in adult education. The training is designed to familiarize instructors with two sets of standards: the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) and the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS).

 

Course Platform and Location:  This self-paced, self-directed online course is delivered through Moodle, an open-source learning management system. The login page appears here: https://airtslearn.airprojects.org/. To obtain log-in credentials, contact the course administrator to enroll (see below).

 

Enrollment:  Teachers interested in taking this course should send their name, program and agency name, and preferred email address to course administrator. In the subject line of the message, teachers should write “Enrollment request, Introduction to Adult Education Standards”. Within one business day, teachers will receive individual log-in instructions.
 

Standards-in-Action: Introduction to Analyzing Curriculum Using Standards

 

Description: This 4-hour online course is designed by the American Institutes for Research for all adult education instructors in Nevada. The course goals are to help participants: (1) determine whether curricula are high quality and aligned to critical aspects of their academic standards for English language arts (ELA)/literacy and math; and (2) assess the degree to which curricula will support their English learners in accessing core academic content.

 

Course Platform and Location:  This self-paced, self-directed online course is delivered through Moodle, an open-source learning management system. The login page appears here: https://airtslearn.airprojects.org/. To obtain log-in credentials, contact the course administrator to enroll (see below).

 

Enrollment:  Teachers interested in taking this course should send their name, program and agency name, and preferred email address to course administrator. In the subject line of the message, teachers should write “Enrollment request, Standards-in-Action: Introduction to Analyzing Curriculum Using Standards”. Within one business day, teachers will receive individual log-in instructions.
 

Other Useful Links
 

Nevada Department of Education (NDE) [www]
The website serves all educators in Nevada and has several pages devoted to Adult Education, described at http://www.doe.nv.gov/Adult_Education/AE_Home/
 

Nevada Adult Education (NAE) [www]
Nevada’s professional organization for adult educators. Members are invited to join in a variety of professional learning opportunities.
 

Mountain Plains Adult Education Association (MPAEA) [www]
A regional professional organization of adult educators from nine states, including Nevada.
 

Literacy Information and Communication Service (LINCS) [www]
LINCS is a national leadership initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) to expand evidence-based practice in the field of adult education. The LINCS website is intended to serve as an information and professional development hub for adult education practitioners. Materials and activities on this site were created using evidence-based research and aim to help practitioners design and deliver high-quality educational opportunities to adult learners.