The online Minnesota Adult Education PD Catalog provides an overview of all MN Adult Ed professional development (PD) activities in one convenient, searchable place. Here you will find brief descriptions of all PD offerings currently provided by the Minnesota Adult Education Support Network.
Note: Not all activities listed here have been scheduled yet, and many can be provided to you by request. Others are available on an ongoing basis.
- Scheduled activities are linked to the MN Adult Ed Events Calendar or other sites, where you can find registration and more details.
- For a list of upcoming PD activities for the year, see FY25 MN Adult Ed PD Dates.
Refine Your Search
The Three L’s: The Difference Between Learning Disability, Low Ability, and Low Literacy
PANDA: MN ABE Physical And Nonapparent Disability AssistanceWhen students have learning challenges, it can be difficult to determine why. Learn how to distinguish between a learning disability, low ability, and low literacy. Acquire knowledge about different types of learning disabilities. Gain information about students with low ability and resources. Understand the complicated nature of learning for students… Read More
Content Areas:
- Disabilities
Audiences:
- Administrator
- Instructor
- Support Staff
- Volunteer

Get to Know Google Classroom
Literacy MinnesotaGoogle Classroom is perhaps the most commonly used Learning/Course Management System (LMS or CMS) in Minnesota Adult Education. Get to Know Google Classroom is a self-paced, asynchronous course for… Read More
Audiences:
- Administrator
- Instructor
- Volunteer

Northstar Digital Literacy Foundations
Literacy MinnesotaThis course provides an introduction to the Northstar Digital Literacy Standards and how they can be integrated into any adult education course. Northstar is one of the three required sets of content standards (along with the CCRS and ACES-TIF). This course is… Read More
Content Areas:
- Digital Literacy / Northstar
- Distance Learning
- ESL
- HSE / GED / Adult Diploma
- Technology
Audiences:
- Administrator
- Instructor
- Support Staff
- Volunteer

Teaching Reading to Adults
ATLASThe Teaching Reading to Adults mini-cohort focuses on what evidence-based reading instruction (EBRI) is, how to assess adult learners in each of the 4 essential components of reading, and strategies for teaching EBRI. This professional development activity takes place over 8 weeks and involves an online course via Canvas and… Read More
Content Areas:
- Reading
Audiences:
- Instructor

Teaching Numeracy to Adults
ATLASThe Teaching Numeracy to Adults initiative focuses on the actual teaching of math/numeracy (rather than pure standards implementation); it takes place over 8 weeks and involves an online course via Canvas as well as live webinars and partner work for a robust professional learning experience for participants. It was designed… Read More
Content Areas:
- Math / Numeracy
Audiences:
- Administrator
- Instructor

Volunteer Core Training Module 4: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Materials
Literacy MinnesotaParticipants will engage in a couple of classroom activities to experience scaffolding, checking comprehension and the gradual release of responsibility. These aspects of teaching and tutoring are then defined, explained further and participants get opportunities to practice them. Read More
Content Areas:
- ESL
- HSE / GED / Adult Diploma
Audiences:
- Instructor
- Volunteer

Volunteer Core Training Module 3: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Learners
Literacy MinnesotaParticipants learn how to apply teaching practices that support language and skill development for all learners. These practices include ensuring that instruction is learner centered, using an appropriate level of teacher talk and delivering error correction. Read More
Content Areas:
- ESL
- HSE / GED / Adult Diploma
Audiences:
- Instructor
- Volunteer

Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
Literacy MinnesotaParticipants develop their personal cultural awareness and learn how expectations around school culture shape how people teach and learn. Guiding principles for effectively delivering instruction to adults are also covered. Finally, participants increase their sensitivity to the challenges of learning English and developing literacy as an adult. Read More
Content Areas:
- Diversity / Equity / Inclusion
- ESL
- HSE / GED / Adult Diploma
Audiences:
- Administrator
- Instructor
- Support Staff
- Volunteer

Volunteer Core Training Module 1: Overview of Minnesota Adult Education and Program Accountability
Literacy MinnesotaParticipants learn about Adult Basic Education programming in Minnesota, demographics of learners, instructional content standards as well as initial and on-going assessment. This session wraps up with learner motivations, barriers and persistence. Read More
Content Areas:
- ABE Policy
- ACES / Transitions
- Assessment
- CCR Standards
- Digital Literacy / Northstar
- ESL
- HSE / GED / Adult Diploma
Audiences:
- Administrator
- Instructor
- Support Staff
- Volunteer

Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Other Traumas Which Can Impact Adult Student Learning
PANDA: MN ABE Physical And Nonapparent Disability AssistanceThis free course will help ABE teachers, managers and volunteers understand symptoms and causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other traumas which can impact adult student learning. This online training is intended to meet the teacher re-licensure area for “Understanding students’ mental illness trauma”. Read More
Content Areas:
- Disabilities
- Mental Health & Trauma
Audiences:
- Administrator
- Instructor
- Support Staff
- Volunteer
