Spring events for adult literacy instructors and co-ordinators: Select your best fit

It’s a busy time at AlphaPlus, with a full roster of events to help you integrate technology into your adult literacy program. From presentations to training to peer groups, our spring lineup is full of opportunities to connect, learn and exchange ideas.

There’s no shortage of digital tools and tech integration strategies for adult literacy practitioners and coordinators. This spring, our focus is on making the most of them. Together, let’s explore the answers to questions such as:

• Which tools work for organizations? For teaching?
• What technologies and teaching strategies can we leverage to have the greatest impact and engagement from learners?
• How can we build and adapt resources to engage and empower adult learners?

Check out the following overview to pick the right opportunity for you. And remember that everything we do at AlphaPlus is free for adult literacy education programs in Ontario.

AlphaPlus spring events to support you

Lunch & Learns

At each Lunch & Learn, we’ll explore a specific digital tool through hands-on demonstrations and Q&A, led by AlphaPlus team member Monika. The focus is on picking up tips and getting familiar with tool-specific features and special settings useful for adult literacy educators.

Format: 30-minute live online interactive presentation

Commitment: Light. Select an individual session based on the topics/tools that interest you.

Upcoming topic: 

• May 13 → Canva
• More to come in the fall starting September 23.

Can you spare 30 minutes to pick up tips about a tool you use – or would like to use? Get the Lunch & Learn details and register.

Virtual Showcases

Each Virtual Showcase features guests from community-based, school board and college programs, demonstrating how they use digital technology. The focus is on learning approaches, strategies and tips from your peers.

Format: 90-minute live online presentation

Commitment: Light. Show up when you can, for the topic that interests you.

Upcoming topics:

• May 6 → Growing Your LBS Community: Innovative and Practical Ways to Enhance Your Engagement Strategies
• June 3 → Succession, Contingency and Onboarding Planning: Ensuring Continuity in Your Program

Do you have 90 minutes to learn from your peers? Get the Virtual Showcase details and register.

Training

Our training series take place over multiple sessions with in-depth instruction, demonstration, real-life examples and opportunities to engage with the instructor and fellow participants. The focus is on enhancing your teaching strategies and digital skills so you can create engaging and interactive learning experiences.

Format: Three live, sequential 90-minute online sessions

Commitment: Medium. We encourage you to participate in all three sessions of a training series.

Upcoming topic: Enhancing Literacy Skills With Visible Thinking Strategies (May 15, 22 and 29 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m)

• May 15 → What are visible thinking routines, how do they help learners and what do they look like in action?
• May 22 → How can educational technologies enhance visible thinking strategies?
• May 29 → How can I utilize visible thinking strategies with my existing resources?

Can you set aside time once a week for three weeks to build your digital skills? Get the training details and register.

Communities of Practice

At our communities of practice, you’ll gather as a group of peers to explore specific teaching resources (e.g. curriculum) and how they would apply in an Ontario adult literacy context and in your classroom. The focus is on in-depth discovery and exploration of resources.

Format: Four live, sequential 90-minute online sessions

Commitment: Extended. Please plan to attend and actively participate in every meeting (all four).

Upcoming topic: Information Literacy (June 5, 12, 19 and 26 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m)

What you will experience in the four sessions: 

• Engagement with your peers in rich conversations about the practice of teaching.
• Exploration of resources that cover the topic of information literacy comprehensively.
• An opportunity to curate a series of lessons that flow together. 
• Opportunities to  co-learn, rather than feel pressure to be the expert.

Would you like to spend four weeks working with your peers to explore adult literacy approaches? Get the community of practice details and register.

Select the event that meets your needs and secure your spot.

Which event in our spring lineup meets your current needs and availability? Would you prefer to join quick drop-in-style events to help you pick up new ideas and tips? Can you commit to a series of training sessions to build your digital skills? Are you ready for ongoing work with your peers to deeply explore relevant topics and approaches?

Follow the links to each offering for full details, and let us know if you have any questions about finding the best fit for you. We’re here to help you learn and explore.