Are you interested in enhancing your practice? OSSE offers the following opportunities to adult educators, facilitators and practitioners who want to improve their practice as adult educators:

• Graduate Certificate Program in Adult Education
• Professional Development

Professional Development

In collaboration with the University of the District of Columbia and other partners, AFE offers professional development workshops on a variety of topics to providers and partners that serve District residents, including the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) Implementation Training.

• IXL Learning - Webinar recordings, Handouts and Resources
• Northstar Digital Literacy Check-in Meetings for DC Providers and Partners – Webinar Recordings, Handouts and Resources
• TOPSpro Enterprise and CASAS Check-in Sessions for DC Providers and Partners

If you would like to be added to the OSSE Adult and Family Education professional development announcement list, email [email protected]. Please include the following in the body of the email: your contact information (name, email, and phone number) and your agency/organization information (name, address, and website).

OSSE Adult and Family Education (AFE) and University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Mini-Professional Development Institutes

OSSE Adult and Family Education (AFE), in partnership with the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), regularly hosts Mini-Professional Development (PD) Institutes for adult education providers, training providers, workforce development providers, partner agencies and other stakeholders on topics designed to enhance literacy, numeracy, workforce preparation, and workforce training to older youth and adults.

Fall 2025 Mini-PD Institute - Reimagining Adult Learning: The Role of Distance Education, HyFlex and AI

OSSE Adult and Family Education (AFE), in collaboration with the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), invites adult education providers, workforce development professionals, training organizations, and partner agencies to a dynamic Mini-Professional Development (PD) Institute — Reimagining Adult Learning: The Role of Distance Education, HyFlex and AI— from Monday, Oct. 6 to Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. This institute explores how distance education, HyFlex models, and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping adult learning. Participants will gain practical strategies and tools grounded in academic, digital literacy, and industry-focused standards to help District residents build essential skills in literacy, numeracy, technology, and workforce readiness. Each day features two 1-hour virtual sessions at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. that will be recorded and posted on the OSSE website. Whether you're helping learners enter high-demand industries or supporting career transitions, this institute equips you to meet the moment—and the future—with confidence!

Please see the Schedule of Events – At a Glance below and review the full schedule of events with session descriptions and a list of resources.

1. Monday, Oct. 6, 10-11 a.m. | Designing Effective Prompts: Enhancing Education and Professional Practice with ChatGPT 
2. Monday, Oct. 6, 2-3 p.m. | Introduction to Distance Education – Development of a Distance Learning Plan  
3. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 10-11 a.m. | Introduction to HyFlex 
4. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2-3 p.m. | Leveraging AI to Revolutionize Assessment 
5. Wednesday, Oct. 8, 10-11 a.m. | AI-Powered Microlearning: Short, Scenario-Based Learning for Long-Term Impact Design 
6. Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2-3 p.m. | Using SkillBlox as Building Blocks for Self-Directed and Online Learning  

FY 2024-25 | Integrated Education & Training + Digital Skills (IE&T + D) = Student Success in Life and Careers (Dec. 9-11,2024)

This mini-PD institute introduces participants to an array of academic, digital literacy, and industry-focused tools and strategies that educators, trainers, workforce providers, and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners can utilize to ensure that District residents have maximum flexibility to engage in learning and training to enhance their literacy, numeracy, digital, and workforce skills to transition and succeed in, life, college, and careers in high-demand industries.

• Data-Informed Strategies: Enhancing Assessments for Every Learner | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• Creating Communities of Inquiry (CoI) in Any Setting | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• Developing Engaging HyFlex Lessons | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• Unlock Learning with a Learner Management System (LMS) | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
•  InnovateEd: Tech Tools for Integrated Education & Training (IE&T) that Anyone Can Use | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
•  #AIforAdultEd: What it Means to Teach with and for AI | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)

Winter 2024 | Aligning Academic, Digital Literacy and Industry-focused Standards into Assessment and Instruction (Jan. 29-31, 2024)

This mini-PD institute provides a foundation of academic, digital literacy, and industry-focused standards, combined with evidence-based strategies and tools, that educators, trainers, and workforce providers can utilize to help District residents enhance their literacy, numeracy, digital, and workforce skills to obtain, advance and/or transition to fulfilling careers in high-demand industries with family-sustaining wages.

• CASAS – New Series Aligned to College and Career Readiness Standards: Focus on Assessment (Part 1 of 2) | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• CASAS – New Series Aligned to College and Career Readiness Standards: Focus on Instruction (Part 2 of 2) | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• Digital Skills Integration: Defining Needs Using Frameworks | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• Digital Skills Integration: Building Knowledge Using Effective Strategies | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
•  Using O*NET Standards to Contextualize Lesson Plans (Part 1 of 2) | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
•  Using O*NET Standards to Contextualize Lesson Plans (Part 2 of 2) | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)

Spring 2023 | Tools of the Trade: Expanding Your Toolkit with Standards-Aligned Assessment and Instructional Tools (May 22-24, 2023)

This mini-PD institute provides a foundation of evidence-based strategies and tools that educators, trainers, and workforce providers can utilize to help District residents achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals as they progress on their learning and/or career paths.

Sessions include:

1. Exploring the O*NET Standards |  Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
2. Taking a Deeper Dive into the O*NET Standards | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
3. Increasing Equity with Northstar Digital Literacy | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
4. Individualize Skill Building with IXL Learning | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
5. Develop Instructional Routines That Build Students’ Digital Literacy Resilience and Skills with the EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit | Webinar Recording | Handout(s) 
6. Customize Learning with Essential Education’s Tools for Adult Basic Education, GED, and Workforce Preparation | Webinar Recording | Handout (coming soon)

Winter 2023 | Charting Your Financial Journey: How Financial Literacy Can Help You and Your Family Achieve Your Financial Goals (Feb. 27 - March 1, 2023)

This mini-PD institute provides a foundation of strategies and tools that educators, trainers, and workforce providers can utilize to help District residents achieve their financial literacy goals as they progress on their learning and career paths to achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals.

Topics include:

To request copies of the handouts from Session 1 – 5.

1. Your Financial Journey – Facilitated by M. González, JPMorgan Chase & Co. 
2. Establishing Good Credit – Facilitated by M. González, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
3. Cyber Safety for Good – Bringing Cybersecurity Home – Facilitated by Jim Maples and Ita Lamont, JPMorgan Chase & Co. 
4. Become a First Time Homebuyer – Facilitated by Justin Cotton, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
5. Start a Small Business/Bring Out Your Inner Entrepreneur -- Facilitated by Darla Harris, JPMorgan Chase & Co. 
6. Bank on DC – Facilitated by Jazman Hicks, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) | Webinar Recording & Presentation

Summer 2022: Help Students Succeed and Get the Outcomes You Need: Managing the Learning Environment for Student Persistence in Education, Training and Workforce Programs (June 6-8, 2022)

This mini-PD institute provides a foundation of evidence-based strategies and tools that educators, trainers, and workforce providers can utilize to help District residents persist on their learning and career paths so that they can achieve their academic, professional and personal goals.

• Supporting Student Persistence: Exploring Classroom Strategies | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• Supporting Student Persistence: Exploring Program Strategies | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• Help Your Learners Go Their Own Way with Differentiation | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• Leveraging Technology-Rich Instruction to Support Differentiation | Handout(s)
• Moving Forward by Designing Backward | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)
• Addressing the Impact of Chronic Stress on Learning | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)

Spring 2022 Mini-Professional Development Institute: Building Blocks for Education, Training and Workforce Providers - Strengthening the College and Career Readiness Aspects of Your Program (May 2-4, 2022)

This mini-PD institute explores ways to help youth and adults in the District of Columbia become college and career-ready by providing strategies that educators, trainers, and workforce providers can use to strengthen the college and career readiness aspects of their programs. These enhancements help adult learners to easily transition to postsecondary education, postsecondary training and ultimately fulfilling careers in high demand industries with family sustaining wages.

Exploring Personal and Workplace Success Skills and Resources (Part 1 of 2) | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)

Exploring Personal and Workplace Success Skills and Resources (Part 2 of 2) |  Webinar Recording | Handout(s)

Designing Pathways to Opportunity: Comprehensive Student Supports (Part 1 of 2) |  Webinar Recording | Handout(s)

Designing Pathways to Opportunity: Comprehensive Student Supports (Part 2 of 2) | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)

Integrating Career Awareness into Program Design and Service Delivery (Part 1 of 2) |  Webinar Recording | Handout(s)

Session 3B. Integrating Career Awareness into Program Design and Service Delivery (Part 2 of 2) | Webinar Recording | Handout(s)

Fall 2021 Mini-Professional Development Institute: Accessible Online Tools for Contextualizing Learning for Older Youth & Adults (Sept. 27-30, 2021)

This mini-PD institute shares online resources and strategies that can be used to enliven learning for adult learners by showing educators, trainers, and workforce providers how to contextualize their online academic instructional programs and occupational skills with free online resources and a template that can be used to develop contextualized lesson plans that integrate adult literacy, workforce preparation and workforce training aligned to one of seven of the District’s high-demand industries and specific industry certifications.

Accessible Online Tools for Contextualizing Learning by Industry Focus:

• IT/Business Administration, inclusive of Finance (and Banking) Webinar Recording | Handouts
• Hospitality Webinar Recording | Handouts
• Healthcare Webinar Recording | Handouts
• Construction Webinar Recording | Handouts
• Infrastructure (Energy & Utilities, Energy Efficient Technology, Transportation & Logistics) Webinar Recording | Handouts
• Law and Security Webinar Recording | Handouts
• Early Childhood Education Webinar Recording | Handouts

DC Moving Far Beyond the Post-test: Implementing New Measurable Skill Gains (MSG) Options (Sept. 15, 2021)

OSSE AFE recorded a webinar for OSSE AFE Integrated Education and Training providers to enhance reporting of the three additional Measurable Skill Gains (MSG) Types at the state and local program levels for National Reporting System (NRS) reporting purposes.

Presenters: Judy Mortrude, Senior Technical Advisor, World Education and Anson Green, Senior Manager, Economic Opportunity, Tyson Foods

• DC Moving Far Beyond the Post-test: Implementing New Measurable Skill Gains (MSG) Options Webinar Recording
• DC Moving Far Beyond the Post-test: Implementing New Measurable Skill Gains (MSG) Options Powerpoint

Spring 2021 - Meeting the Postsecondary Education, Training and Workforce Needs of District Residents at a Distance:  Resources, Strategies and Partnerships (April 26-28, 2021)

As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency, we are all charged with finding new ways to meet the postsecondary education, training and workforce needs of District residents so they can achieve their college and career goals.  This mini-professional development institute offers information about resources, winning strategies and partnerships that can be used to meet the diverse needs of District residents at a distance and/or in place-based settings using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), social distancing and other health and safety protocols. 

• The Future is Now!  Preparing Today’s Workforce for Tomorrow 
• Pathways to College and Careers for Older Youth and Adults
• Flexibility is Key to Adults Earning Postsecondary Credentials and Degrees 
  • Trinity Washington University
  • Catholic University Metropolitan School of Professional Studies
• Creating Pathways to Employment for District Residents 
  • DCHR Career Pathways
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Services Overview 
• Preparing District Residents for Postsecondary Success
• Connecting District Residents, Job Seekers and Employers

Winter 2020 - Meeting the Physiological, Socio-Emotional and Socio-Economic Needs of District Residents at a Distance: Resources, Strategies and Partnerships

This mini-PD institute provided information about proven online resources, winning strategies, and partnerships that can be used to meet the needs of District residents accessing services at a distance.

• First Aid for the Soul: Strategies for Helping District Residents to be Resilient in the Midst of the Pandemic 
• Supportive and Wrap around Services for Adults, Youth and Families in the District
• Supportive and Wrap-around Services for Immigrant Families in the District 
• DC Public Library - Meeting the Diverse Needs of the Community 
• Youth Services Panel – Linking District Youth to the Programs, Services and Resources 
• The OSSE DC ReEngagement Center Helps Youth Get Back on Track!

Summer 2020 Mini-Professional Development Institute: Meeting the Education and Workforce Needs of District Residents at a Distance: Resources, Strategies and Partnerships (Aug. 10-12, 2020)

This mini-PD institute provided information about proven online resources, winning strategies, and partnerships that can be used to meet the needs of District residents at a distance.

• Adaptive Learning with Essential Education: From Adult Basic Education to GED to Workforce Preparation
• Virtual Job Shadow: Exploring Career Options Using High Quality Videos 
• DHS TANF Employment & Education Program (TEP): Incentivizing 2 Gen Activities Online for Families in the District of Columbia
• DC One-Stop Operator: Meeting the Needs of Employers and Job Seekers through American Job Centers
• World Education: Essential Distance Learning Resources 
• Career Coach DC! Tools for Workforce Preparation and Career Planning 

Spring 2020: Essential Distance Education Series

This session provided strategies and techniques to assist DC providers and partners in pivoting to online services during the COVID-19 pandemic. These sessions were facilitated by Dr. Jen Vanek, a national expert in adult education and distance learning, who manages the EdTech Center and the IDEAL Consortium at World Education, Inc., a division of JSI.

• Ready, Set, Go! | Webinar Recording | Handouts
• Supporting Learners from the Start | Webinar Recording | Handouts

Graduate Certificate Program in Adult Education

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC), in collaboration with OSSE Adult and Family Education, offers a Graduate Certificate in Adult Education Program to prepare adult educators to meet OSSE licensure requirements and the UDC certification requirements.

OSSE AFE offers a scholarship for adult educators, funding permitting. The eligibility criteria for the scholarship is based on education, employment, and residency and can be found in the OSSE Adult Educator Scholarship Program Information.

UDC also offers a Master of Arts Degree in Adult Education that is aligned with the Graduate Certificate in Adult Education Program. To learn more about these two programs, contact Dr. Heather Bruce at [email protected].

Contact Information

For general information about the scholarship and/or the approved courses, please email the OSSE AFE team at [email protected] or Dr. Heather Bruce, UDC Adult Education Program at [email protected] and include “OSSE Adult Educator Professionalization Scholarship” in the subject line.