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PSLA Workshops

Workshops and Retreats for Pennsylvania Educators and Youth
The Pennsylvania Service-Learning Alliance offers a variety of professional development opportunities for educators, administrators, and students. Workshops can be specifically tailored to 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

Free and scheduled to meet your needs
Workshops are free of charge and can be delivered on-site, for a minimum of 15 participants. Youth workshops are day-long retreats designed to fit the specific needs of your students. A schedule and hours of workshops will be developed to meet the specific needs of each school.

• Educator and Administrator Workshops - PSLA offers Act 48 hours for teachers who attend workshops
• Youth Workshops

For Educators and Administrators

Advisory Boards
Advisory boards are an important component of every organization. However, putting together one that “works” can be a challenge. Through this workshop, participants will learn the basics of recruiting board members and facilitating effective board meetings that get things done! Specific emphasis will be placed on how to effectively involve young people and parents.

Evaluation Basics
Don’t leave evaluation up to just one person. Everyone can and should be involved in gathering information and data that will improve educational programs. Learn to design easy to use data collection techniques that help you assess your students’ progress and program objectives. Research and assessment will be taught in easily understood and practical terms which will not only engage teachers in the evaluation process, but students as well.

Connecting Academic Standards to Service-Learning
All service-learning projects must be designed to meet academic standards. However, being able to assess which standards have been addressed by a project is no easy feat. This workshop is designed to help educators integrate and enhance the academic curriculum as they implement service-learning methodology. Participants will learn how to build curriculum webs and to create service-learning portfolios that reflect academic learning.

Digital Miracles Project
The Digital Miracles Project is an after school program designed to provide students with access to computer technology, using skills learned to make a difference in their community. PSLA offers professional development to support teachers in designing and implementing this program. Topics covered in these training sessions include computer hardware repair, software installation, and service-learning project development.

Service-Learning 101
Interested in service-learning, but not quite sure what it's all about? This basic workshop is designed to help participants gain an understanding of service-learning and it's core components. Teachers will explore how service-learning enhances student learning outcomes. Participants will learn how to use service-learning across all academic disciplines, how to design and implement service-learning projects, how to recruit and work with community partners and how to engage students throughout the process.

Grant Writing
In this workshop, grantsmanship will be distilled and reduced to its essentials, presented in a way that can make it manageable and enjoyable for busy after-school staff. An introduction to the generic elements found in every proposal will be provided, along with cut-and-paste, fill-in-the-blank templates to help translate ideas into viable grants.

Character Education
The workshop will focus on how programs can build character and promote positive behaviors of students.   A variety of methods of integrating character education will be introduced including reading activities and peer mentoring.  A particular emphasis will be placed on how students can develop a Classroom Codes of Ethics.

Community Connections
The stronger the community connections, the more fun, exciting and academically enriching educational programs will be. This workshop will focus on finding, building and maintaining community partnerships.

Service-Learning as a Tool to Bridge the Digital Divide
The term "digital divide" refers to the idea that there is a gap between people and communities who are able to effectively use technology, and those who are not. There are many ways that students can help to narrow this divide in their community.

This training will educate attendees about the causes and effects of the digital divide. National statistics will be examined, and potential solutions to issues of access to hardware, software and training will be explored. Descriptions of successful and meaningful digital divide service-learning projects will be presented, and participants will have an opportunity to collaboratively develop strategies for bridging the divide through classroom activity.

Special Education Partnerships
Service-learning in special education is a circle of partnerships. From the project design to implementation, it is crucial to include people with a wide array of expertise to help foster quality projects with students. This workshop will provide information and prompt discussion about ways partnerships will help service-learning projects meet IEP goals, address academic standards, and provide valuable life experience for students with diverse needs. We will also discuss where to look for and how to forge these partnerships.

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For High School and Middle School Students

Show Me the Money! Writing and Finding Grants
Grant writing isn’t just for adults. Researching and writing grants is a great way for students to gain writing, math and civics skills. This workshop will guide students through the grant writing process, and will provide a list of basic grant opportunities to get participants started.

Youth on Board!
A fun and informative workshop to give students the skills and background to effectively serve on advisory boards.

Youth as Evaluators
Young people have an important role to play in evaluating and making positive differences in community programs. Students will learn the basics of survey and interview design, how to run focus groups and how to develop rubrics. The information students gather can make a significant impact on program improvement.

Service-Learning: Build the House of Service
In this workshop students learn how to be “architects of community change” as they work through the basic steps of service-learning. Students will explore how to create a vision statement, plan a project, develop community partnerships and make a significant difference in schools and communities.

Tutors and Mentors
High School students can serve a vital role of giving personal attention and academic support to younger students. Students will learn the basics of mentoring and providing academic support in reading and homework help.