As technology evolves, educators need to stay informed about emerging tools so they can add creative new techniques to their toolkits. The Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) hosted its popular Technology and Digital Learning Symposium for adult educators March 7–8. OTAN, which is operated by the Adult Education Department at the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), provides technology support for adult education. They offered more than 60 sessions about digital learning at the two-day conference.
Also known as TDLS, the annual symposium brings together educators from across the state to explore new technologies, offering interactive sessions that inspire innovation. Nearly 350 attendees of the hybrid event—held online and in person at the Long Beach School for Adults—explored innovative teaching methods and learned how to integrate new tools into their teaching. This year, teachers also discovered ways to prioritize personal wellness.
Recordings from TDLS 2025 will be added to a growing collection of video recordings from previous conferences. Next year’s conference has already been announced (March 6–7, 2026, in Monterey) with details coming soon to the TDLS website and OTAN’s social media accounts.
Popular 2025 TDLS Presentations
The 2025 conference began with a keynote address from Education Coach Leticia Citizen (“When Digital Equity is Digital Justice”), and attendees found many sessions focused on artificial intelligence. The Tech Playground drew enthusiastic crowds to explore emerging technologies. Over the course of the 90-minute demonstration, participants tried virtual reality goggles, augmented reality tools, and AI-powered websites. Educators also experimented with cutting-edge innovations and discussed how they could be applied to enhance learning in the classroom.
The Wellness Space was another popular stop. The relaxing environment allowed conference attendees to recharge while learning about mindfulness and relaxation tools to ensure they can support both students and their own professional growth. The space included gratitude exercises and activities that encouraged self-reflection.
TDLS left attendees feeling inspired about educational technology possibilities and supported in their ongoing work. It underscored OTAN’s commitment to equipping educators with the tools and strategies needed to thrive in the ever-evolving field of education.
About the SCOE Adult Education Department
The Sacramento County Office of Education Adult Education Department provides technical assistance, professional development, coordinated communication services, and capacity building to adult education agencies throughout California with the goal of helping adult learners succeed—in their post-secondary education, career, and community. The department leads three major initiatives:
- California Adult Education Program (CAEP)—develops capacity and serves 71 CAEP consortia through innovative and responsive leadership
- Capital Adult Education Regional Consortium (CAERC)—provides technical support to CAEP members in the four-county CAERC consortium (10 districts, two county offices of education, and one community college district)
- Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN)—leads the adult education field in the support for and application of technology