Newsletter 2 | Enhancing Adult Education with Digital Tools

The Digital Activities Newsletter introduces a new activity called Search the Artifact, using AI-generated images with inconsistencies to identify artifacts. The newsletter also discusses the Asynchronous Tech Support App, which offers comprehensive tech support for adult education practitioners. The app includes video tutorials and personalized support. Glide apps are used to create the app, but recent changes to its subscription model have affected some features. Supporting resources and a toolkit are provided to help agencies utilize Glide apps. The relevance of asynchronous tech support is emphasized, as it supports digital literacy and bridges gaps in education. The app can be viewed as a web page or an app and can serve as a digital resource for learners and staff. Three key areas where the app can be instrumental are student onboarding, tech support and help center, and skill building. Overall, asynchronous support apps can greatly enhance adult education by meeting diverse need Welcome to Digital Activities Newsletter, where we elevate learning with digital resources. We are introducing a new activity in this newsletter called Search the Artifact. The newsletter cover was generated with DALI3, an AI image generator by OpenAI. AI-generated images sometimes have inconsistencies, also known as artifacts, that are elements that do not belong traditionally in an image, like an arm not connected to a person, extra or missing fingers, or other characteristics not requested in the prompt. This, however, has helped users identify that the images were created with AI. We will have a generated AI image cover for each newsletter with a question asking to identify the artifacts. Today's question is, can you find the two animals that do not belong in the image? The link to the full resolution image, along with the answers to this question, will be included in the newsletter and can be found in the latest news and events section at www.digital.atdnct.org. Today's newsletter is called Enhancing Adult Education with Digital Tools, written by Jose Adorno. Introduction to Digital ATDN's Asynchronous Tech Support App. One of my initial projects at Digital ATDN involved developing an asynchronous app to aid adult education practitioners in Connecticut. Built using Glide apps, Digital ATDN's on-demand videos app offers comprehensive tech support for teachers and agencies. Offers comprehensive tech support for teachers and agencies, addressing issues in both in-person and remote classroom scenarios. The selection of programs available in the app was based on the survey administered to the field, identifying the most commonly used programs and their attendant use in agencies. The app provides 1. Curated short video tutorials covering a range of tech applications in adult education, organized by program and task, including troubleshooting steps and useful tips. And 2. Help center and personalized support, allowing users to access program-specific help centers and schedule sessions with Digital ATDN for further assistance. Glide apps, a closer look. Glide apps enables users to create apps from spreadsheets, transforming data into interactive cards without coding. It supports various platforms like Excel, Google Sheets, and Airtable. Recent updates include templates, adjustable views, and AI integration for improved data management. However, changes to its subscription model have affected some features, such as bookmarking videos for future viewing. Supporting resources. To assist agencies and staff in utilizing Glide apps and creating a similar experience to Digital ATDN's on-demand video app, I've compiled a toolkit within a Wakelet collection that includes 1. A Google spreadsheet template for resource organization and app creation, and 2. A step-by-step guide for setting up your spreadsheet and populating the app with resources. You can access the Create an Asynchronous Tech Support Toolkit by clicking here or by visiting the Content Area Toolkit section on our home page at www.digital.atdnct.org. The relevance of asynchronous tech support today. While the pandemic emphasized digital literacy's importance in education, digital proficiency remains crucial despite the shift back to in-person learning. The asynchronous tech support app structure, which initially focused on improving digital literacy, has evolved into a virtual tool. It not only bridges literacy gaps, but also supports agencies in various ways, enabling students to acquire skills essential for classroom success, professional growth, and personal objectives. Glide apps' screen adaptability feature allows the app to be viewed as a web page or as a web page. Glide apps can also be viewed as a web page or as a web page or an app, depending on the device used. The application can serve as a digital packet of dynamic resources accessible by learners throughout their program journey and referenced by teachers, counselors, career coaches, facilitators, and other staff as needed. Updating the app is as simple as updating the information in a spreadsheet cell or link. Based on my experience, here are three key areas where such support can be instrumental when adapting the structure to target specific needs in your agency. One, a student onboarding app streamlines registration and provides easy access to essential information like policies, services, and guidelines. Useful resources to include in the app Useful resources to include in the app are student handbooks, school calendars, digital bulletin boards, forms, links to additional services with requirements, and contact information for support staff. Two, a tech support and help center app addresses the digital divide and ensures access to essential tech programs and resources. The app can include short videos, tutorials, modules, guided instructions, links to help centers, and office hours for additional support. Three, a skill builder app assists students in overcoming skill gaps that may hinder their academic and professional progress. The app can offer resources for developing studying strategies financial literacy, career development, transformable skills, and more. Conclusion. In summary, asynchronous support apps can significantly enhance modern adult education. By providing tailored resources for teachers and students, we can improve learning experiences and meet the diverse needs of adult education agencies. Digital ATDN offers free tech support and implementation sessions to adult education staff in Connecticut. Schedule a session here or select tech support and implementation in the need assistance section on the Digital ATDN homepage at www.digital.atdnct.org. Thank you for tuning in. Please feel free to listen to our previous newsletters and TechCast episodes available in our Digital ATDN Newsroom podcast channel. Take care, everybody.