Don’t get stuck. Resolve to reach out to AlphaPlus in 2026!

Last October, I received a phone call from Jeannine (not her real name), an administrator at a local adult literacy program who was looking for training. However, I quickly discovered that training wasn’t what she really needed.

Jeannine was trying to find a recording of a past eight-part Microsoft 365 training series. Since we had designed the series for educators, I dug a little deeper into her request. It turned out that her problem was much simpler than she realized. She needed help setting up a form for a board meeting. So instead of training, I offered to help her create the form.

This conversation with Jeannine was an enlightening reminder of the lack of digital tech support that many adult literacy programs face. It was also a reminder that not everyone’s aware of the support that AlphaPlus can provide!

Big or small digital technology challenges, we’re here to support you.

At AlphaPlus, our role is to help adult literacy education professionals in Ontario use digital technology. That can sometimes mean big-picture roles, like advocating for systems-level change. Sometimes, it can mean providing information and training to help teachers integrate technology and innovate in their teaching practice. It can mean coaching administrators through system upgrades and the adoption of new technology.

But sometimes our role means working with you directly to help you overcome small day-to-day digital technology hurdles. In fact, we encourage you to reach out to us with small problems because:

• These conversations help us learn about your real digital technology challenges and what you’re trying to do.
• They allow us to support you further since we can recommend next steps and additional opportunities.
• Providing one-to-one support brings us closer to you!

We have the time to help you through the small stuff. We’re professionals who examine how digital tools shape adult-literacy teaching and learning, but because we don’t directly deliver programming, we have the time and flexibility to help you solve problems or look at things differently. And because we have experience across different technology platforms and have worked with programs across the province, we may have seen similar struggles or challenges before. We can tap into our breadth of experiences and knowledge to help you get unstuck.

We want to help you through the small stuff so that we can serve you better.

Our interactions with you have informed our programming in 2025, from the topics we’ve featured to the formats we’ve used to convene, support and share knowledge with you. We’ve taken new approaches such as examining digital curricula together, supporting your use of digital assessment tools like CAEC and offering easy-to-digest technology tips. Participation in our programs — including professional development, lunch and learns and virtual showcases — has grown, and the feedback has been positive. We want to keep that momentum going in 2026 by continuing to work closely with you.

As for Jeannine, I asked her for a sample of the form she wanted to create then made a version in Microsoft 365 for her to review. Over the phone, I walked her through the available features, helping her create her own version step by step. Her real frustration was figuring out how to use the digital tools she had at her disposal to complete her task. She was happy to get oriented. I was glad to help get her unstuck, and since then, she has come back for specific suggestions and next steps to learn more about Microsoft 365.

Don’t get stuck. Resolve to reach out to AlphaPlus in 2026!

As we enter 2026, we’re resolved to connecting directly with more professionals like Jeannine to offer quick technology help — but we need your help to do so. We invite you to make this resolution: skip the struggle with digital technology and come straight to AlphaPlus. Start by emailing me directly. If I’m not the right person to help, I’ll connect you with a team member who is.

I look forward to hearing from you in 2026!

Alan Cherwinski, Executive Director