Service Learning 101
- 1. Service Learning 101Shannon HealyCSLC InternsCommunity Service Learning Center
- 2. What brings you here today?What do you want to get out of this seminar?What organizations do you represent?What’s your personal role with service?
- 3. OverviewDefinitions and DifferencesCharacteristicsBenefitsThe 5 Critical ElementsEnhancing Your ProjectsActivityThe CSLC/Wrap-up
- 4. What’s in a Name?VolunteerismService-LearningAcademic and co-curricularCommunity ServicePhilanthropyExperiential EducationCivic Engagement
- 5. Service Learning Definition (1)From the National Commission on Service-Learning:“… a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.”
- 6. Service Learning Definition (2)From the Corporation for National and Community Service: “Service learning…”Promotes learning through active participationProvides structured time for students to reflectProvides opportunities to use skills and knowledge in real-life situationsExtends learning beyond the classroomFosters a sense of caring for others
- 7. Service Learning Is Not…An episodic volunteer programAn add-on to an existing school or college curriculumCompleting minimum service hours in order to graduateService assigned as a form of punishmentOnly for high school or college studentsOne sided; doesn’t benefit only the student or only the community
- 9. A Balanced ApproachFocusLearningServicePrimary Intended BeneficiaryRecipientProviderService-LearningCommunity ServiceField EducationVolunteerismInternships
- 10. It’s Not Just Academic!Service learning can also be organized and offered by community organizations with learning objectives and structured reflection for their participants
- 11. The Spectrum of ServiceExperiences coordinated by the CSLC can help you develop through this continuum.
- 12. Take inventoryWhere do you think the average GVSU student falls in the spectrum?Where do you fall in this spectrum?Where do most of the members of your organization fall?How do we become active citizens?.....
- 13. Example of Community ServiceStudents remove trash from a stream bedThey are providing a service to the community as volunteers
- 14. Example of Service LearningStudents remove trash from a stream bedAnalyze what they foundShare the results with the neighboring community and offer suggestions on how to reduce pollutionThen reflect on their experienceThat’s service learning!
- 15. Common CharacteristicsPositive, meaningful, and real to the participantsCooperative rather than competitivePromotes teamwork and citizenshipWorking with real problems in real-world settings rather than simplified problems in a textbook or generalized issuesIdentifying the most important issues within a real-world situation through critical thinkingPromotes deeper learning – there are no “right answers” in the back of the bookHas an impact on the student and the community
- 16. Even More Added Benefits!National studies suggest that students in effective service learning programs:Improve their academic gradesHave increased attendance in schoolDevelop personal and social responsibilityImprove characterEngaged students also learnPositive values, leadership, and citizenshipJob skills and how to prepare for careers after college
- 17. Critical Elements of Service LearningCommunity VoiceOrientation and TrainingMeaningful ActionReflectionEvaluation
- 18. Each organization/community has a unique voice and needsThese should be included in the development of any service learning projectIt’s a collaboration – Talk with them!Community Voice
- 19. ResponsibilitiesWhat community is it in? Which organization? Who do they serve? What is the issue?What difficult situations might arise? How do you address those?Group/Team BuildingOrientation and Training
- 20. Necessary and valuableAre both sides involved and committed?Is the project engaging? Challenging? Meaningful?Meaningful Action
- 21. What?As a participant, what did you do? See? Feel?Initial observations on the projectSo what?Why was this important?What have you learned? How has your view changed?Now what?What do you do next?How to take this understanding and continue!
- 22. What’s the impact?You – learning experiencesAgency – effectivenessCommunity – needs metHow can we improve/grow/change?Evaluation
- 23. What are you already doing?Examples of service projects you currently take part in?Adopt-a-HighwayStrike Out ArthritisBowl for KidsNo ideas yet? How can you get started?
- 24. How can you enhance that?With all these definitions and elements you just learned – how can you apply those?Not everything can or should be turned in to service learning.Barriers: Time, resources, etc…Baby Steps!
- 26. By organization type, if possible!Who can you connect with?In Residence HallsCommunity CouncilsRA’s/MA’sAssistant Living Center DirectorsOther service and philanthropy based organizationsAcademic departmentsCommunity organizationsThe Community Service Learning Center!
- 27. Who they areWhat they doWhere you can find themWhen opportunities areWhy you should get involvedThe CSLC
- 28. Upcoming Opportunities - FallInto the Streets2 Fridays each month 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.Travel time includes travel to and from sitesAlternative Breaks Info Night10/6/09 9:00 p.m.- 11:00p.mGrand River Room, Kirkhof CenterMake a DifferenceDay10/24/09 Pew Campus 8:30 a.m.Pew CampusFirst Year Service Experience11/20- 11/21/09location TBA
- 29. Winter 2010 OpportunitiesInto the Streets2 Fridays each month 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.Time includes travel to and from sitesMLK Day of Service1/16/10Volunteer and Internship Fair1/28/10 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Henry HallService and Advocacy Week2/22/10 - 2/26/10Community Outreach Week3/29/10 - 4/2/10
- 30. Questions?
- 31. Contact UsCommunity Service Learning Center1110B Kirkhof Center331-2468www.gvsu.edu/serviceservice@gvsu.edu
Editor's Notes
- #5: Volunteerism: refers to people who choose, on their own, to perform service to others without payService-Learning: particular emphasis is placed on the learning that occurs through service; often connected to classroom objectives; may be eligible for academic creditCommunity service: general term for work without pay in the community; also used as form of punishment, which can create misunderstandingsPhilanthropy = Fund Raising or money collection for a community organization THIS IS INDIRECT SERVICEExperiential Education: broad term for various teaching methods that emphasize hands-on learning; includes service-learning, but not all experiential ed is SLCivic Engagement: umbrella term for any Individual or collective action designed to identify and address issues of public concern
- #6: One of many service-learning definitionsNCSL- developing recommendations and an action plan to make service-learning available to all K-12 students, and encouraging adoption of service-learning among education leaders and policy makers.
- #7: Can we all agree that these aspects are positive things?Don’t have to memorize either definition word for word, but it’s important to know the elementsthere are many different interpretations of service-learning as well as different objectives and contextsUltimately, all service-learning seeks to accomplish the same core concepts- Combination of service objectives with intentional learning objectives- Changes in both the recipient and provider of the service
- #8: Explain what an episodic volunteer program These may be elements of a successful comprehensive service-learning project, but they do not qualify as service-learning on their ownBut if you do get community service as a punishment and have to complete court-appointed hours, the CSLC can help you schedule those!
- #9: Civic engagement encompasses service learning but is not limited to it. All Service-Learning has a Civic Dimension, but not all civic engagement has a service learning dimension.
- #11: Service-learning is already being implemented by many AmeriCorps programs and a growing number of Senior Corps programsCould easily be incorporated into character or skills development goals for:4-H, Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, campus orgs, fraternities/sororities, church youth groups
- #12: Examples: Member – you know there’s an issue in your community, but it may not directly affect you, so you’re not as concernedVolunteer – doing some fundraising and know you’re giving the money to an organization, but not sure where the $$ goes or how it’s usedConscientious citizen – want to understand the purpose of what you’re doing and get deeper into the problemActive citizen- participated in Alternative Breaks (service learning- educated about social issue of animal rights, actively volunteered, decided to become vegan)DISCLAIMER: No matter where you fall on the spectrum, THAT’S OKAY! Just because you’re only a member or volunteer right now does not make you a bad person! Being here and attending this workshop is a good start to moving along the spectrum.Also, knowledge level for an issue changes among people. Within a group some members may be volunteers and others may be active citizens. You may find that you are at different points on the spectrum based on different issues.
- #13: Activity- spectrum of service, have them stand where they think they fall. Ask questions, and ask for examplesHow do we ==== you being here is a great start! Making your service more meaningful will positively impact those around you… Challenge yourself to be more purposeful in what you are doing. (even if it’s not the entire focus of your organization)…. So understanding and participating service learning is one way you can move along the spectrum to become an active citizen.
- #14: a service that is highly valued and importantAsk them for their personal examples
- #15: the students are providing an important service to the community AND, learning about water quality and laboratory analysis, developing an understanding of pollution issues,learning to interpret science issues to the public, andpracticing communications skills by speaking to residents. They may also reflect on their personal and career interests in the process.Has anyone taken a course that included service learning? Has anyone had an experience outside of the classroom that they would consider as service learning?Follow up on previous example -> can it be enhanced to meet elements of service learning?
- #16: Common elements of authentic service learning-problem solving– example – School of Engineering and Westtown Jubilee ____ (Carter Partnership Grant 10,000)Engineering professor had students building energy efficient homes to make affordable housing for the community
- #17: More reasons of why it’s good to take your service to the next level- research shows that there are measurable benefits
- #18: Just introduced you to the concept of Service Learning. How many of you were familiar with everything that I shared?It’s a bigger concept than most people realize--- now we are going to discuss the elements of actually HOW to make a service experience into service learning.These are the five things that must be a part what you do in order for the service to have value and meaning.
- #26: Worksheet – 5 critical elementsPick a current project or one you’d like to startFill out sheet, discuss-OR-Which course is the best candidate for incorporating a service-learning component?Course Development WorksheetList course objectives.Brain storm potential projects and partners that could help you teach at least one course objective.Logistics