The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, in partnership with the Pennsylvania School Press Association (PSPA), is hosting a free Adviser Workshop to support and empower high school educators leading journalism, yearbook, broadcast and digital media programs.
Here's the agenda for the session.
MONDAY, JUNE 29
- Noon - 4 p.m.
PSPA Board Meeting (Multipurpose Room, Bellisario Media Center) - 5-7 p.m.
Adviser Exchange and Happy Hour (Graduate Hotel)
The Adviser Exchange and Happy Hour is a casual, informal networking session designed to bring together media advisers in a relaxed setting. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences and discuss common challenges and successes in advising student media programs. Advisers are encouraged to bring student publications for optional, informal feedback and practical tips from PSPA board members. This session fosters collaboration, idea-sharing and professional community building.
TUESDAY, JUNE 30
- 9-10 a.m.
Registration (Atrium, Bellisario Media Center)
Coffee, tea and pastries available. - 9:45 a.m.
Welcome - Emily Clevenger/Cyndi Hyatt - 10-10:45 a.m.
Emerging Technology in Classrooms - Stephanie Thomas (Atrium, Bellisario Media Center)
Emerging technologies are rapidly reshaping the classroom, but the real challenge is not adoption. It is alignment. How do we integrate tools like AI and immersive media in ways that strengthen, rather than dilute, the human experience of learning?
In this keynote, Stephanie Thomas, the Bellisario College's director of emerging technologies and AI literacy and faculty member teaching advanced digital advertising and emerging technology courses, draws from her work in large, applied classrooms to explore how students are already navigating AI, automation and digital ecosystems in real time. Grounded in both her teaching practice and her work with Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology, she offers a candid look at what is working, what is not and where faculty often get stuck.
Through live demonstrations and classroom-based examples, this session reframes AI and emerging technologies as tools for communication, experimentation and critical thinking rather than technical hurdles. Emphasis is placed on building trust with students, creating space for transparent conversations about AI use and designing assignments that meet students where they are while still challenging them to think ethically and strategically.
Rather than focusing on mastering tools, this keynote centers on developing adaptable teaching approaches that prioritize empathy, clarity, and connection. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of how to support student exploration, set meaningful boundaries, and integrate emerging technologies in ways that feel both manageable and impactful. - 10:50-11:35 a.m.
Moving Beyond Hazelwood: Teaching Students Their First Amendment Rights - Amy Kristin Sanders (Atrium, Bellisario Media Center)
How we teach student journalists about their rights can dramatically influence their decisions about what stories to cover. Looking only at the Hazelwood decision as a limiting principle rather than presenting students with a fuller picture about their ability to use open government laws to access public meetings and public records can discourage hard-hitting reporting. In this session, we'll discuss the bright spots for student journalists in the legal landscape and offer tips for teaching these rights in a positive and empowering manner. - 11:40-12:25 p.m.
From Messy to Meaningful: How to Coach Stronger Student Media - Whitney Justice (Atrium, Bellisario Media Center)
Good design is not about adding more. It’s about making better choices. This session will help you identify what’s working, what’s getting in the way and how to guide your students towards more effective visual content. We’ll talk through practical ways to strengthen student work with simple design principles, fast feedback strategies and go-to systems that keep creativity flowing without letting things get chaotic. - 12:30-1:25 p.m.
Lunch Provided - 1:30-2:15 p.m.
How to Hone Your Advising Skills: What Your Students Want to See in an Adviser - Ben Shapiro and Shreya Vaidhyanathan (Multipurpose Room, Bellisario Media Center)
This session features accomplished former student media leaders sharing their firsthand experiences and insights into what students value most in an adviser. Through reflection and discussion, participants will gain a unique, student-centered perspective on effective advising practices. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to better support, motivate, and connect with their student media staff. - 2:15-3:05 p.m.
Breakout Session I (Participants may choose one of the two sessions to attend).
1) How To Cover Protests, Rallies and Marches - Michael Heistand (via Zoom)
Presented by Michael Heistand, senior legal counsel, Student Press Law Center, this session offers information for high school student media advisers who want to give their student journalists practical, legal and safety guidance when covering protests. We will discuss the rights of the press in public spaces, how to prepare before arriving, how to respond to police encounters and dispersal orders and what to document afterward. The presentation emphasizes that journalists have the same rights as other citizens, while giving newsroom-ready tips for staying safe, protecting work product and knowing when to seek help. - 2) Barebones Broadcast 2.0 - Brian Shoenfelt
Room 213, Bellisario Media Center
If your background isn’t in video journalism, this session will cover basic professional terminology with examples for each and cover how your students can achieve professional-looking outcomes by following a few simple rules. We’ll cover essential gear, simple production workflows, and creative strategies to make the most of what you already have. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to elevate your current setup, you’ll leave with practical tips, budget-friendly tools, and inspiration to help your students shine on screen. - 3:15-4:05 p.m.
Breakout Session 2 (Participants may choose one of the two sessions to attend).
1) Photography: Getting the Gear - Nate Thompson
Room 201, Bellisario Media Center
A former media adviser and professional photographer will discuss photography equipment at multiple budget levels to help your crew up their game for any scenario and any budget.
2) Staff Management and Grading - Samantha Corza
Multipurpose Room, Bellisario Media Center
This session focuses on practical strategies for managing student media staff and implementing fair, effective grading practices. Participants will explore techniques for setting clear expectations, fostering accountability, and evaluating student performance in collaborative, real-world media environments. The session will provide actionable approaches to balancing mentorship with assessment to support student growth and program success. - 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Technology Petting Zoo - Stephanie Thomas
Atrium, Bellisario Media Center
Wrap up the day with a hands-on, interactive mixer designed to make emerging technologies approachable and practical. Participants will have the opportunity to explore tools such as AI platforms, immersive applications and devices including the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest in a low-pressure, guided environment.
All tools featured will be free or open-access where possible, making it easy to translate what you experience into your own classroom. Stephanie Thomas will be available throughout the session to walk participants through each tool, answer questions and help connect ideas directly to teaching and learning goals.
In addition to hands-on exploration, participants will be introduced to practical pathways for piloting these technologies in their own schools, including classroom grants, district innovation funding and external partnership opportunities.
This session is designed for exploration, experimentation and conversation. No prior experience is required
