Resource Guide for New Instructors

These publications are produced by VALRC with the goal of providing easy-to-access professional development opportunities as well as building connections across the field of adult education in Virginia.

• Voices from the Field: A collection of podcasts connecting you with voices from the field of adult education and literacy. Here, you can explore topics that are relevant to adult education in Virginia.  
• PROGRESS: Virginia’s adult education and literacy news journal. Articles provide program managers, instructors, staff, practitioners, and the public-at-large with strong evidence-based articles that can help improve practice and promote transformation.
• SPOTLIGHT: An annual online publication that seeks to shine a light on adult education learners, their experiences, and their learning through the creative process. SPOTLIGHT features writing by Virginia adult learners.
• Stories from the Field: A collection of news and events from adult education programs, spotlights on program initiatives, student success stories, and even discussions of challenges facing our field.

Facilitated online courses and self-paced tutorials are offered through the Virginia Commonwealth University’s Canvas Learning Management System (LMS)

Create a Canvas Account: You will need a VALRC Canvas account to access these training sessions. If you do not already have one, please use Canvas Account submission form to request one.

Professional Opportunities: VALRC offers professional development (PD) opportunities for adult educators and staff in a variety of offerings to best serve your needs.

If you enjoy learning in a more structured environment, our facilitated online courses and webinar series provide you with experts from the field to guide your learning journey. For those of you who enjoy interacting with your peers, our virtual professional learning communities (PLCs) and online open discussions allow you to learn in and among other adult educators from across the state. We even have self-paced online tutorials where you can work at your own pace with what works best for your schedule.

• Facilitated Online Courses
• Virtual Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
• Webinar Series
• Self-Paced Online Tutorials
• Online Open Discussions

VALRC Events: Calendar listing of upcoming training opportunities.

LINCS Partnership Events: LINCS offers an open-access, web-based learning platform that also provides over 20 self-paced online courses for adult educators and practitioners.

These are some of the significant government agencies, professional organizations, and partnerships that support the work of adult education.  

VDOE: The Virginia Department of Education supports adult education and literacy primarily by funding and supporting programs at the local level. VDOE staff oversee grant awards and financial and outcome reporting for funded programs, which include 22 regional programs across the state as well as English literacy and civics education programs in areas with large populations of English language learners.

VAACE: The Virginia Association of Adult and Continuing Educators is a professional association representing Virginia’s adult educators. Its mission focuses on “working to improve the practice of adult education, enhance the status of our profession, and advocate for lifelong learning and the adult learner.”

LINCS: The Literacy Information and Communication System is a leadership initiative of the U.S. Department of Education to expand evidence-based practice in the field of adult education. It offers free professional development with experts and fellow practitioners from across the country, including discussion groups,  courses, webinars and special events, and a resource bank.

COABE: The Commission on Adult Basic Education is a professional organization that works to advance national and international adult education and literacy opportunities for all persons. Conferences, a professional journal, and webinars are among the resources they offer to teachers of adults, aiming “to inspire educators so adults succeed and communities thrive.”

ProLiteracy is a national literacy organization specifically focused on providing professional development and training, instructional materials, grants and funding, research, and advocacy in the area of adult literacy.

Virginia Career Works aims to advance economic stability and growth by preparing and connecting people who want to work with employers who need to hire through its training providers and network of professional partners. Eight agencies collaborate to address Virginia’s workforce needs; adult education plays a vital part in the workforce development system.