2026 Iowa Adult Education & Literacy Conference

2026 Iowa Adult Education & Literacy Conference

9:00am CDT

Breakfast, Networking & Resource Exploration Attrium

10:00am CDT

Keynote - The Weight and the Wonder Ballroom

11:00am CDT

Applying Key Principles of Adult Learning for Effective ESL Instruction 113 Best Practices for Integrating Digital Literacy into Adult foundational Education Classes 112 Engaging the Tired Student 115 I Was Burnt Out, But Not Broken 109 Using CASAS STEPS, GOALS 2 and Other Tools to Inform Instruction and Support Learner Progress Ballroom Igniting Math Collaboration: Strategies that Move Students Forward 114 Collaboration Across the Workforce System 108

12:00pm CDT

Lunch, Awards & Recognition Ballroom

1:15pm CDT

Teaching Real Life Conversations to the Beginning Student: A Teaching Strategy Developed by Chris Westergaard of the Language House in Prague 108 Accelerated Learning Strategies for Busy Adult Learners 109 How to Keep Students Engaged with Hybrid Teaching 115 Using Learning Upgrade in Your ABE Program 112 Igniting Leadership Collaboration: Driving Impact in Adult Education Programs 114 Building Workforce Minds: From Attention Span to Application 113 Career Ready Platform Demonstration and Exploration Ballroom

3:00pm CDT

Academic Conversations in the Adult ELL Classroom 109 Building Sustainable Instructional Systems Across Programs 113 Leading with Grace 108 Unlocking HiSET Success Through Data and Collaborative Pathways 112 Professional Development and ILC: A Director’s Look at ConnectAble’s Professional Development Dashboard Ballroom Igniting Workforce Pathway Collaboration: Connecting Learning to Opportunity 114 Stronger Together: Effective Co-Teaching Strategies for Integrated Education & Training (IET) Programs 115

4:00pm CDT

HiSET Reception Magee's Irish Pub

7:00am CDT

Breakfast, Networking & Resource Exploration Attrium

8:00am CDT

Keynote - Remember Your Why: Reconnecting Purpose in Adult Education Ballroom

9:30am CDT

Igniting Collaboration: High-Impact Strategies for English Learners 114 Set It Up Right: Simplifying Employer Onboarding for Stronger ESL Outcomes 115 Executive Functioning Skills for Adult Learners 109 Trauma Stewardship 112 Professional Development and ILC: A Staff and Faculty Look at ConnectAble’s Professional Development Dashboard Ballroom

10:30am CDT

A Teacher’s Dozen: Activities to Engage Your Learners 114 Workplace English for ESOL Learners 109 The Importance of Building a Community in the Classroom: Relationships Matter 108 Civic Education for All: Capitalizing on the Civics Exam to Strengthen Civic Culture 115 Supporting ELL Students in HiSET Classes 112 Career Ready Pilot Discussion and Partnership Opportunities Ballroom Learning That Leads to Earning: Designing IET Programs for Local Workforce Needs 113

12:00pm CDT

Lunch / Closing Celebration & Door Prize Drawing Ballroom

1:30pm CDT

Instructional Strategies for Multi-Level Adult ELL Classes 113 Igniting Access: A Framework for AI Innovation in Adult Education 108 Igniting Your Adult Education Journey 115 Quick-Win Lessons: Low Prep Strategies for Mixed Level Classrooms Ballroom From Canvas to Career: Turning Instruction into Opportunity for Adult Learners 109 Igniting Literacy Collaboration Across Content: Making Learning Stick 114 Human-Centered Innovation: Design Thinking for Program Directors Who Want to Solve Big Problems 112