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Adult Ed SIG

Conversations

Prepared by �Nanci Leiton

Spring Workshop

April 30, 2022

adulted@ortesol.org

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Who are �Adult Educators?

Instructors of English in these environments:

  • Community Colleges�Oregon has 17 community colleges
  • Workforce Training�Oregon CTE encompasses 6 career areas
  • Adult Basic Ed�All CCs in Oregon include ABE programs
  • Community Education�**Not usually subject to state standards�

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Community Colleges

Workforce Development

CTE

ESOL

ABE

CTE

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40-40-20

Oregon anticipates more than 120,000 additional jobs requiring post-secondary training or education between now and 2030. In order to meet this need, 300,000 additional adult Oregonians should earn a new degree, certificate or credential valued in the workforce during that time. Because Oregon has substantial attainment gaps among minority, low income and rural Oregonians, the state will also commit to reducing those attainment gaps by half during the decade.

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Professional Development

&

Foundation

Training

OACCRS�OREGON ADULT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS

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Current Issues for TESOL

  • Continuing education/training at all levels
  • Valuing & retaining trained/experienced instructors
  • Resolving the gap between instructional supply and demand
  • Capitalizing on workplace skills students & instructors gained over the past 2 years
  • Other?

​

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Trends in Adult Learning

Are ESOL instructors keeping up?

Are Oregon institutions keeping up?

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  • Online, mobile and blended instruction, training, certification
  • Better feedback with adaptive learning systems, digital curricula with embedded assessments; project-based learning with authentic performance tasks
  • Employer-trainer partnerships with hands-on and practical instruction

Source: https://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/09/21/10-current-and-emerging-trends-in-adult-learning/

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Key Facts about Job-Related Training

What can ORTESOL do to address these issues in Oregon? How do these stats apply to EL Teachers?

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Key Facts about Job-Related Training

What can ORTESOL do to address these issues in Oregon? How do these stats apply to EL Teachers?

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WHAT NOW?

Am I willing to get trained, meet students where they are, serve up the skills needed by a modern workforce? What does this require?

How can we meet student needs in our individual classrooms? How are these different from their career goals?

What are the obligations of professional organizations (like ORTESOL, COABE & TESOL) to our members to help them answer these questions?

KEY QUESTIONS FOR ADULT EDUCATORS

Other Questions? (from attendees)

  1. How can we ensure equal access to learning resources, like quiet spaces and technology?
  2. What partners can help achieve these goals? Participant suggestions included: resettlement organizations, �corporate entities, tech companies (with wrap-around support), microfinancing models (reinvest each successful repayment into tech for new learners)