School yourself in 2013 with these city classes

THERE'S A MAJOR DIFFERENCE between making a New Year's resolution and actually bettering yourself in 2013. Here are a few ways to get you off the couch and into the classroom:

West Philly's Community Education Center offers African dance classes for everyone, from kids to adults. The all-inclusive vibe is part of the attraction for CEC executive director Theresa Shockley. "It has a real community village feel to it," Shockley said. "You just have to be brave. You just have to keep coming back."

Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave.; 7:30-9 p.m. Mondays, $12; 2-3:30 p.m. Saturdays, $15; 215-387-1911, cecarts.org.

The Philly Improv Theater won't automatically make you wittier, but it will educate you in the ways of improv (made-up-on-the-spot comedy), sketch (written work; think "Saturday Night Live") and stand-up with its 60 classes for all levels. PHIT founder Greg Maughan says that one participant started taking classes to gain confidence, not laughs; now she's one of the PHIT's most outspoken performers.

Details at phillyimprovtheater.com or 267-233-1556.

Connie Rea started Mindspot last spring because she wanted to take cheap classes that didn't require a ton of commitment. Sessions are two hours and are taught by volunteers passionate about their subjects. Want to learn how to take a better iPhone picture? Daily News photographer David Maialetti will teach iPhonetography on Jan. 14. Want to learn a little French to impress friends? Hit up Mindspot on Jan. 16. Those are just a few examples. Classes are $20-$25, based on materials, and usually take place at the Plastic Club (247 S. Camac St.).

Details at mindspotphilly.com.

If you have the style sense, it's time to take matters into your own hands. South Street's Spool offers sewing classes, starting with basics like how to use a machine, then graduating to making simple skirts. Two- and four-hour classes, $52 for materials. Sister store Loop offers tutorials on knitting. Beginner class, $72 for two two-hour sessions; includes materials.

Spool, 1912 South St., 215-893-9939, spoolsewing.com. Loop, 1914 South St., 215-893-9939, loopknits.com.

The New Kensington Community Development Corp.'s Sustainable 19125 will school you in how to be good to the environment. Program is based on demand, with classes like how to compost or build your own rain barrel.

Details at nkcdc.org and

sustainable19125.org.

One of Kensington's newer additions is the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym, partially funded by a Knight Arts Challenge Grant. The gym isn't fully open yet, but it started offering classes in December for all experience levels. Aluminum-casting workshops, for example, are all-day affairs. Founder Darla Jackson says she's had participants from teens to seniors take their first crack at creating here.

Sculpture Gym, 1834 E. Frankford Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Jan. 19 and 26, $50-$75, 215-901-1933, philadelphiasculpturegym.com.

Anyone can follow a recipe, but how many people can trick out their baked goods? Deborah DiCintio Lang shows you how at the Italian Market's cook's paradise Fante's. Bring an undecorated cake and some icing. Just try not to eat your materials before class starts. We know, it's tough.

Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop, 1006 S. 9th St., 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Feb. 2, $125 (includes $85 in supplies and tools), 215-922-5557, fantes.com.

Old City's Clay Studio offers a variety of long-running pottery classes, and it'll even prorate fees if you start a little late. (Classes started Sunday, but you can still join in.) We're fans of the one-off classes like Date Night. The third Friday of every month, make a simple project with your sweetie while enjoying a glass of wine and snacks. Out of Hand one-offs are the same concept, but every fourth Friday. Classes fill up fast, so preregister early.

The Clay Studio, 7-9 p.m., $30-$35, 215-925-3453, theclaystudio.org.

PhillyCAM (Philadelphia Community Access Media) runs the city's cable access channels (66 and 966 on Comcast; 29 and 30 on Verizon), but it needs content. A $25 annual membership to PhillyCAM gets you access to the cameras and computers. Learn how to use them at weekly classes in editing (Thursdays, beginning Jan. 31), basic field production (Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 29) and studio production (Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 5). Attend the required new-member orientation on Thursday. Register for classes at 10 a.m. Jan. 15.

New-member orientation, PhillyCAM, 699 Ranstead St., 6:30 p.m., Thursday, free, 267-639-5481, phillycam.org.

Fleisher Art Memorial is one of the city's hidden gems, offering tuition-free art classes of all stripes on a first-come, first-serve basis to members of Fleisher ($30 per term, $60 for the year). These fill up quick, so you're out of luck for most winter offerings. Look ahead to spring (registration begins Feb. 25). Fleisher also offers relatively cheap workshops and open studio time if you're beyond the beginner level.

Fleisher Art Memorial, 709 Catharine St., 215-922-3456, fleisher.org.