AISA educators interested in service learning and global citizenship have many opportunities to engage in professional development during the winter and spring of 2022.
The timing of the workshops and conferences coming up might be particularly apt for educators who have had to navigate uncertainty with in-person, virtual and hybrid learning environments during this academic year. Maintaining robust service learning programs has been challenging for many of us, and our upcoming PD offerings are designed to help you stabilize and grow your programs. Some sessions will also help you explore new strategies to maintain and grow your service partnerships and leverage the power of virtual spaces to create even deeper and more purposeful interactions (this is possible!).
Upcoming PD options in the AISA service learning realm also focus on DEIJ and ways of evaluating and evolving our programs to be more equitable, inclusive and just.
The AISA Service Learning forums are a great place to stay up-to-date with what is happening, and to engage with other AISA service learning educators to share ideas, ask questions and provide feedback.
In addition, some specific sessions are coming up that you’ll want to mark on your calendars!
This annual conference for students and teacher advisors focuses on global issues and sustainable responses, as well as engaging and reciprocal service. This year the conference will be hosted online by the American International School of Capetown (AISCT). Click Here to view the schedule and find out how you and your school teams can get involved.
There will be workshops for both teachers and students as well as affinity groups where you can meet and discuss issues with people you share a common interest.
Shei Ascencio and I will be leading a session on how to maintain momentum with your service & global citizenship initiatives online, face-to-face or in a hybrid environment. There will also be a DEIJ panel discussion involving AISA educators including Tiwana Merritt and Constance Collins. Additional workshops will be posted on the website, and the AISA service learning forums.
Cathy Berger Kaye and Shei Ascencio will lead participants in a free 1-hour workshop to learn about Documentar, an online platform for youth to express their experiences of life, the pandemic, DEIJ themes and more. Cathy created Documentar early in the Covid-19 pandemic so young people could connect and share their experiences, and it has generated a rich online dialogue. AISA educators can register for this event free of charge, and you can invite 1-2 students to participate as well. It will be a creative and participatory session, and all participants will come away ready to engage with Documentar. Click Here to find out more and register.
AISA educators will have the opportunity to register for a day of online learning focused on service learning and global citizenship. Sessions will include a keynote involving a student panel, a full-group workshop with Inspire Citizens, and workshops facilitated by AISA Service Learning Coordinators. There will also be time for networking and sharing, and the theme of the day will be Going Beyond the Basics: Service Learning to Disrupt and Heal.
We are looking forward to a meaningful professional opportunity and collaboration between all those leading and implementing Service Learning in AISA Schools. Save the date and check back later here for more registration information soon.
The Association of International Schools in Africa is dedicated to serving its members throughout Africa. Please let us know if you require additional or specific information, resources and or support, and we will endeavour to assist you as soon as possible.