Penn State » Outreach » Educational Secretaries » Agenda at a Glance » Concurrent Sessions

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Concurrent Sessions

Adults Return to Higher Education: Helping Our Customers Reach the Stars
Carolyn Callaghan, Shippensburg University

As the number of adults returning to colleges and universities continues to climb, college personnel struggle to provide adequate support services for these students. In many cases, university offices providing services for adults lack a coordinated effort to understand and meet these learners’ unique and diverse educational needs. Unfortunately, some offices require adults to follow the same policies and procedures as traditional students (18–24 years of age). This session will examine the use and scope of student services for adult learners, the delivery methods, and how to enhance services for this audience and make them more appropriate. Better student programming and services will provide adults with greater access to higher education, give voice to the adult learner, and increase enrollments. The results could help improve the changing landscape of higher education for adult students as they become more visible and prominent on college campuses.

Working Your Way to Wellness (Sessions III and IV only)
Beth A. DeLay, Pocono Mountain School District

This presentation will focus on overall wellness. General fitness concepts and recommendations for healthy eating, making time to exercise, and stress reduction will be the highlight of the presentation.

Foundations for Your Future (Sessions III and IV only)
Michelle Earnest, PSERS

This session will provide information regarding your retirement system, to help you better understand (1) the benefits you have as a member of PSERS and (2) the important decisions you must make when you retire. We will discuss:

• the different types of retirement; what you will be eligible for
• the retirement formula; how your benefit is calculated
• how you can increase your retirement benefit through the purchase of qualifying service
• the retirement benefits
• withdrawing your personal contributions and interest and the monthly benefit payment plan choices
• the taxes on your contributions and interest and on your monthly benefit
• the steps you need to take as you plan for retirement
• working after retirement
• health care after retirement

Issues Surrounding Internet Safety: From Identity Theft to Cyberbullying to Social Networking to Sexual Predators!
Chuck Favata, retired, Council Rock School District

Over the past years we have read about many issues regarding the use of the Internet, from ID theft to students using the Internet with risky behaviors; from cyberbullying to falling prey to unscrupulous people via information that is posted online. Seemingly benign postings and conversations on the Internet can easily give a predator all the information he or she may need to track and trace the victim. Also, derogatory postings about others can have far-reaching effects in the future behaviors of the victim.

A presentation graphics program will be used to simulate Internet activity, and the session will include a question-and-answer period. In the program a section is devoted to the issue of identity theft and how to prevent your identity from being compromised. Also covered is cyberbullying and how it has and will affect students. Last, screen shots of online postings and actual pedophile sites will be shown—along with examples of tracing programs and Internet resources that are used by sexual predators.

Do you know the difference between a Free Credit Report and an Annual Credit Report? Do you know of Jeff Weise, Dylan Klebold, Eric Harris, Pekka-Eric Auvinen, or Dillon Cossey? Have you ever heard of NMBLA, PIE, AGLO, PAL, LiveJournal, or Second Life? Come learn how all of the above can affect your daily life, at work and at home.

Generations at Work
Dr. Wendi Lee Foltz, Avon Grove School District

This interactive session will help the participants identify and understand the different generations represented in their workplaces. The participants will spend time exploring how shared experiences helped to shape the values, beliefs, behaviors, and work styles of the different generations. They will then explore strategies for effective intergenerational communication in their workplaces and will practice adapting communication styles to interact more effectively with members of different generations. Particular emphasis will be given to the Millennials, who are now beginning to enter our organizations.

Stump the Teacher—Your Microsoft Office Predicaments (Sessions I and III only)
Leslie Foster, Penn State

Bring all those pesky Microsoft Office problems that pop up at the worst time, and take home working answers. Bring along all those time-consuming tasks that stretch on and on, month after month, and take away time-saving solutions. This session will be all about you—the Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access 2003 or 2007 user—and can make your daily workload a bit lighter. Any question not covered or resolved during the session will be answered directly with the participant after the conference.

Windows VISTA—Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Have Arrived (Sessions II and IV only)
Leslie Foster, Penn State

VISTA—is it the next best thing to sliced bread or a kissing cousin to the IRS 1040 long form? Never has there been an operating system that has received so many cheers and jeers from so many. Whether VISTA has just arrived on your computer or you know it will be coming some day, you should attend this session to see what it looks like, how to navigate it, why to embrace some great new features, and when to turn off items that are just plain annoying.

Professional Standards Program (PSP) (Session II only)
Bonnie J. Miller, CEOE, Pace School

Have you heard about the Professional Standards Program and thought that the application process is too complicated? Are you uncertain whether you would qualify for the program? If so, this session is for you! The Pennsylvania PSP chair will provide an overview of the program and application process. Many certification levels are available. Join other education professionals and discover how easy it is to become a “Certified Educational Office Employee.” The participants are encouraged to bring their questions and application forms to the session.

Dealing with Difficult Employees in the Workplace
Bob Orndorff, Penn State

Increasingly, one’s personality and character are the difference makers when it comes to experiencing career success and advancement. Through entertaining scenarios and real-life work situations, this session will help the participants identify difficult employees and will provide techniques for working with each type of personality. The session will be based on The PITA Principle, by Robert Orndorff, D.Ed., and Dulin Clark, Ph.D.

The PITA Principle will be available at the conference.

Resolving Conflicts in the Workplace (Sessions I and II only)
Nancy Stampahar, Silver Lining Solutions©

Are you experiencing conflicts with your teachers, co-workers, board members, even yourself? Why do so many conflicts occur, and why do so many people want to avoid them? Success in work, and in any area of our lives, is directly dependent on our ability to communicate and to resolve conflicts. This interactive workshop will give you an awareness of how different personalities, generations, and departments work well together and how they clash in the workplace. You will receive practical insights, phrases, and conflict resolution techniques that can reduce frustrations and improve performance both organizationally and personally, no matter how difficult someone may be. It’s up to you—if you are no longer willing to accept the status quo, take the lead! This session will help you:

• assess how you handle conflict
• understand the differences between passive, assertive, and aggressive communication styles
• discover the impact of verbal and nonverbal communication
• understand how the four generations and different personalities can work well together and can clash at work
• apply the Fact-Impact-Future conflict resolution and influence technique

Visit: www.silverliningsolutions.com and www.peacelove and lemonade.com. Peace, Love and Lemonade will be available at the conference.

Become the Star in Your Own Life (all day Thursday, Sessions I AND II, OR all day Friday, Sessions III AND IV)
Ann Marie Wishard, Sweet Annie Herbs

“Lift your spirits and your face.” Learn how to handle stress, control and lose weight, and feel younger! Annie will present head-to-toe health secrets that you can use to shine. Hear about the latest research on herbal and nutritional supplements that can improve your mind and immune system, balance hormones, and reduce health problems.

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an  program of the College of Education in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Association of Educational Office Professionals (PAEOP)