AACAE Conference 2023 Reflection

On behalf of the Arkansas Association of Continuing Adult Education (AACAE) and the executive board, I extend my sincere gratitude to all the attendees who made this year's conference an incredible success. The energy and enthusiasm at the Doubletree and Robinson Center in Little Rock, AR, were truly inspiring. The conference, held on October 25th, 26th, and 27th, was a testament to the dedication and passion of our AACAE community. We are proud of the collaborative spirit that was evident throughout the event.

This year marked a milestone as we welcomed over 260 dedicated individuals who registered and actively participated in our engaging workshop sessions. Your presence and active involvement contributed to the vibrancy and success of the conference.

A special thank you goes to our esteemed keynote speaker, Abtin Mehdizadegan, whose insights and expertise added tremendous value to the conference experience. We appreciate your time and commitment to sharing valuable knowledge with our community.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all the presenters who generously shared their expertise and made each session informative and engaging. Your contributions played a vital role in creating a diverse and enriching conference program.

Looking ahead, the executive board is already hard at work planning the

2024 AACAE conference. We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 AACAE conference will be hosted at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, AR, with the preconference on October 23rd and the main event on October 24th and 25th. We are confident that this upcoming conference will exceed expectations, and we look forward to the continued growth and success of AACAE.

Once again, thank you to each attendee, presenter, and supporter for making the AACAE conference a highlight of the year. Your commitment to adult education and professional development is truly commendable.

UAM McGehee Adult Education, Monticello Center, spotlights Jaydyn Jones. Jaydyn earned her GED in May of 2023. Jaydyn came to adult education because she was not going to graduate with her classmates. She had a goal to become a dental assistant. She enrolled in adult education classes in early April and walked at UAM’s graduation ceremony in June. 

Jaydyn enrolled in the Little Rock Dental Assistant Academy for an RDA license in August of 2023. The program lasted 3 months and included a 40-hour externship. She graduated from dental assistant school with a 97% a few days after her 18th birthday, in November.



Jaydyn is enrolled in a 2-year radiation technology program beginning in January of 2024. Jaydyn states, “I wouldn’t be where I am now if my adult education teacher hadn’t pushed me and showed me my potential. I never would have made it this far. Adult Education helped set my foundation and I promise I am going to continue my education. I am determined to beat the odds, represent UAM Monticello Adult Education, and make you all proud!”

We all have been in meetings where we have witnessed (or maybe even participated) in people having conversations with others while the speaker was talking. You probably realized how distracting that sidebar conversation was for you. As a presenter, these types of behaviors can be even more distracting. Here are a few “meeting etiquette rules” to keep in mind when attending meetings and trainings.

1. Be punctual, respect time limits for agenda items, and plan to stay for the entire meeting.
2. Communicate openly and directly.
3. Be courteous, listen attentively, and be respectful of other points of view.
4. Participate fully in the group exchange, and not engage in sideline conversations, cross-talk, or distracting behaviors.
5. Be flexible and open to change and new ideas.
6. Stay on task and not divert attention to other unrelated topics.
7.  Assume positive attentions by others, giving them the benefit of doubt.
8. Be solution-focused, seeing opportunities, challenges, and possibilities and not dwell on past slights, roadblocks or excuses.

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Understanding and following proper meeting etiquette rules, helps:

• Maintain professionalism: Adhering to meeting etiquette shows that you are a professional who takes work seriously and respects the time and opinions of others.
• Improve communication: Following proper etiquette helps ensure everyone in the meeting can communicate effectively and understand each other.
• Build trust: When meetings are conducted respectfully, it builds trust between participants and can lead to more productive and successful outcomes.
• Increase efficiency: Meetings can be conducted more efficiently, with clear agendas and expectations, reducing the time spent on unnecessary discussions.
• Create a positive environment: Proper etiquette can help to create a positive atmosphere in the meeting, reducing conflict and encouraging collaboration.

That said, proper business etiquette is more than just following a few arbitrary rules; it is a way to set expectations, foster respect, and ensure that all the participants in a meeting are on the same page.

(Retrieved from: https://childcarelounge.com/pages/suggested-code-of-conduct-for-staff-meetings; Cathy Abraham.)

DISABILITIES

Infusing Technology to Meet the Needs of Learners

Before COVID, infusing technology into education was strongly encouraged in the educational setting. After COVID, it has become a foundational requirement for educational advancement. Even though this has become a staple in educational planning, the process and steps of planning and implementation may not be as clear. A few educational models have been tested and proven to impact technology-infused education positively. The Addie Model is one suggested. The benefits of the Addie Model include step-by-step implementation questions to provoke thoughtful planning and procedures to assist with implementation. 

Remove Tech Distractions with Focus Sessions

You can schedule the session for as long as you would like and starting at 30 minutes it will automatically add a 5 minute break. If you don’t need a break then click the "SKIP BREAKS" box.

This is great for teachers, administrators, students and anyone that needs some distraction free-time to get things done.