We know your time is precious. To help you decide whether a training session is what you need, we include information in each online listing in a range of categories, and then use those categories consistently across our professional development activities.
Definitions for all those categories are on this page:
Training Session Topics
ACCESS FOR EVERYONE
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources to vary instruction, cater for different learning styles and abilities, and/or highlight the diverse needs of adult learners.
ADVOCACY, PUBLIC AWARENESS
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources to advocate for adult or family literacy within the political system, and/or ways to help the general public better understand literacy issues, problems, and needs.
CIVICS & CITIZENSHIP
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for civics lessons, and/or information for newcomers to the United States to prepare for the knowledge elements of their citizenship application.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATION
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for nonprofits and other organizations to work together effectively, combining forces without duplicating efforts.
DIGITAL LITERACY, TECHNOLOGY
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources focused on the latest technology, such as AI, and/or highlight ways that adult learners can gain the digital literacy skills needed to thrive in the modern world.
DISTANCE & VIRTUAL LEARNING
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for online classrooms, virtual learning resources and methods, and other learning that does not take place in person.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING: ESL, ESOL, ELL, EAL
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources specifically for adult learners of the English language, traditionally known as ESL or English as a Second Language and for which a variety of names is now used.
FAMILY & PARENT LITERACY
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for family literacy activities, including literacy for parents and caregivers of all kinds.
FOUNDATIONAL READING: HSE, ASE, ABE, GED
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources specifically for adult learners in reading and other foundational literacy programs, traditionally known as ABE or Adult Basic Education, and for which a variety of names is now used.
FUNDRAISING, PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for helping your program thrive, with a particular focus on various ways to raise money.
HEALTH LITERACY
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources on ways to help adults manage their health, navigate the US medical system, and/or understand health-related information and guidelines.
INSTRUCTIONAL THEORY, METHODOLOGY, RESEARCH
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources that focus on current research, recommendations based around best practices, and/or other ideas and theory behind the practice of adult education and literacy.
LEARNING DIFFERENCES & DISABILITIES
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for adult literacy learners who have learning disabilities or other differences, and effective interventions to help them learn and increase in confidence.
LIBRARY-BASED LITERACY SERVICES
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources specifically for adult and family literacy programs that take place in US libraries.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for communicating your message and/or advertising your programs to a variety of audiences.
MATH, NUMERACY, FINANCIAL LITERACY
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for adult numeracy and math, and/or money management and other financial literacy for adults.
PROGRAM EVALUATION, DATA MANAGEMENT
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources on testing, databases, measuring and recording data, and/or other methods of measuring and reporting on program outputs and outcomes.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, STAFF SUPPORT
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for program administrators managing adult and family literacy programs, including staff teams at community-based organizations.
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT & MANAGEMENT
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for recruiting, onboarding, and supporting volunteers who help deliver programs and services at adult and family literacy organizations.
WORK READINESS, LITERACY FOR WORK
Session will include ideas, techniques, and/or resources for assisting adult literacy learners to prepare themselves for successful work, including soft skills required in American workplaces.
Training Session Audiences
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTORS
Session will primarily benefit teachers, tutors, and other instructors – including volunteers – in adult education and literacy classes.
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS
Session will primarily benefit those in non-classroom roles who coordinate, manage, and otherwise support the structure and framework of community-based adult and family literacy programs.
DECISION MAKERS
Session will primarily benefit leaders in community-based adult and family literacy programs, including program directors, CEOs, and other leadership roles.
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Session will be of interest to a range of people who hold a variety of roles in adult and family literacy programs.
Training Session Levels
BEGINNER
Session will be helpful to people learning about this topic for the first time; no prior knowledge required to be able to benefit.
INTERMEDIATE
Session will be helpful to people who already have some basic knowledge, and are ready to go beyond basics with this topic.
ADVANCED
Session will be helpful to people who already have a high degree of familiarity with this topic.
Texas AEL PD Categories
Assigned by TCALL
LIT: LITERACY INSTRUCTION
Sessions that focus on reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English, at a level that helps an adult function in society.
PAL: PRINCIPLES OF ADULT LEARNING
Research-based topics that include characteristics specific to adult education and learning, and support the range of knowledge, skills, and abilities adults need.
OTHER
Other: Any professional development session that does not fall into one of the other two categories.
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Checked/updated: 8/27/25