Sarah Rach-Sovich

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

—Benjamin Franklin

Service? Learning? Picking up trash on a riverbank is service.

Studying the role of wetlands in a healthy ecosystem is learning.

When college students help children from under-resourced schools design and implement activities as part of a project restoring the native wetland habitat of the Rio Salado. . . that is service learning.-adapted from “Discover Service-Learning” by The National Youth Leadership Council

What is it? Service Learning is an instructional method that utilizes

community service as a resource for learning.

It allows students to learn and develop through participation in thoughtfully organized service activities that:

integrate and enhance academic curriculum

provide “real-life” experiences that exercise academic skills and knowledge

meet actual community needs

partner the college with community agencies and/or schools

foster civic responsibility

Service Learning also Promotes learning through active participation

Provides structured time for students to reflect

Provides an opportunity to use skills and knowledge in real-life situations

Extends learning beyond the classroom

Fosters a sense of caring for others

Characteristics of SL According to the National Commission on Service

learning, service-learning:

Links to academic content and standards

Involves young people in helping to determine and meet real, defined community needs

Is reciprocal in nature, benefiting both the community and the service providers by combining a service experience with a learning experience

Service-learning is NOT: An episodic volunteer program

Logging a set number of community service hours in order to graduate

Compensatory service assigned as a form of punishment by the courts or by school administrators

Only for high school or college students

One-sided: benefiting only students or only the community

The distinctive element of service-learning is that it enhances the community through the service provided, but it also has powerful learning consequences for the students or others participating in providing a service. Service-learning is growing so rapidly because we can see it is having a powerful impact on young people and their development.

According to Eyler & Giles, 1999

Why we created this course? Each community is made up of a variety of integral parts that make

it unique, thus there are unique needs and dynamics surrounding the community

You will have an opportunity to develop and gain an understanding of what this community’s needs are, its various social issues, and community dynamics

In turn you will have to opportunity to develop a project that will aid in addressing social issues or develop programming that will meet the needs identified within the community

The Brainerd area serves persons of all nationalities, and physical and emotional needs

Through this project, you will gain the opportunity to assist your community and gain an academic experience which will enhance your learning

Who is doing it? Source: National Service Learning Clearing House,

http://www.servicelearning.org/article/archive/35/

"In the past several years, service- learning has spread rapidly throughout communities, K-12 institutions, and colleges and universities. In a recent survey of its member institutions, Campus Compact gathered information on trends in community involvement and service across a good cross-section of the nation's colleges and universities (Compact, 2001). During the 1999-2000 academic year, among the 349 campuses that responded to the survey,

712,000 students had participated in some form of service

12.2 percent of faculty were offering service-learning courses

6,272 service-learning courses were taught

9 percent required service-learning courses for graduation

National Numbers Service learning is catching on around the nation.

• In 2002, 33% of students on Campus Compact member campuses were involved in service projects, up from 28% in 2001.

• 59% of campuses report an increase in the number of students participating in service.

• 21% report an increase of more than 10% in the number of students serving on their campuses.

Why is Service Learning Important? A national study of Learn and Serve America programs suggests that

effective service-learning programs improve grades, increase attendance in school, and develop students' personal and social responsibility. A growing body of research recognizes service-learning as an effective strategy to help students by: Promoting learning through active participation in service experiences;

Providing structured time for students to reflect by thinking, discussing and writing about their service experience;

Providing an opportunity for students to use skills and knowledge in real-life situations;

Extending learning beyond the classroom and into the community; and

Fostering a sense of caring for others.

Common characteristicsof authentic service-learning

students are able to identify the most important issues within a real-world situation through critical thinking

promotes deeper learning; there are no "right answers" in the back of the book

generates emotional consequences, which challenge values and ideas

supports social, emotional and cognitive learning and development

Added Benefits In other words, Service-Learning projects are like “mini-

internships”

They allow you to gain experience and make contacts while earning a grade

Many students have found real internships and summer jobs through contacts they created during SL projects

It is also a great source of references for a future job search

Other Benefits Career clarification

Students who are not sure what career they want to choose have the opportunity to experience what to expect

For example, a student in a Hotel, Restaurant & Institution Management class may have to plan a corporate convention layout plan for a SL project. That student may find out that he or she hates organizing conventions. SL projects let students dip their foot in the pool without diving in head-first.

Looks Good on a Resume Résumé

A SL project provides the students with experience that they can put on a résumé

SL projects also help students network in their community

Many times these connections last throughout the students’ college career and end up as references

Insights from others “Tim obviously put a lot of work into this and they not only did a great

job, but also performed an excellent service for people in their community. Not only would I have given them high marks on this project but I would recommend them highly to any employer.” Rev. Dan Wolpert, on a “blogging website students created for the First

Presbyterian Church of Crookston

More insights… “We encourage students to list service-learning experience on their resumes. Service-

learning builds people and communication skills that classroom learning doesn’t develop. Most importantly, service-learning gets the students out into the community to network. It’s not what you know but who you know.

Employers want to see applicants that are active in other activities. Service-learning projects separate students from the run-of-the-mill in that they have had hands-on experience. Most employers, I’d say around 90%, are looking for that hands-on experience.” Don Cavalier

Director, Counseling and Career Center

4 Steps to Service-Learning Projects

1. Preparation

2. Action

3. Reflection

4. Celebration

Kennesaw State University Learn and Serve Centerwww.kennesaw.edu/community/servicelearning/Pages/steps.shtml

1. Preparation – You should… Have a role in identifying the community needs you

would like to address

Arrange to meet with Faculty (in class and my review of the site contract) and Community Partner Representatives (site supervisor) to discuss responsibilities, goals, scheduling, needs, and other areas of interest

2. Action – You should… Ensure that the service-learning activity is meaningful and

meets your academic goals

Adhere to all established regulations and/or guidelines

Take ownership of the project and its responsibilities

Adhere to agreed-upon scheduling and/or expectations

Be as creative as possible!

You are not only representing yourself, but you are also representing CLC

Community partners will remember a sloppy or unfinished project

3. Reflection – You should… Think about and apply skills learned through the service-

learning project

Recall any preconceived notions prior to the service-learning project

Think about those who benefited from the service-learning activity. How were they impacted?

Think of how the service-learning activity impacted the community as a whole

4. Celebration Recognize the efforts of all involved (that includes those

being served!) in making the service-learning project a worthwhile and rewarding experience

Share reflections with one another

Have fun!

Celebrate!

You've done something great!

Examples of SL Website design

Marketing strategies and research

Outreach at local homeless shelter/soup kitchen

Landscaping

4-H clinics

Tax help for senior citizens

Service Learning Links National

National Service-Learning Clearinghouse

Corporation for National and Community Service

The Big Dummy's Guide to Service-Learning

The National Service-Learning Partnership

National Youth Leadership Council

Service Learning Links Local

Mesa Community College – Center for Service Learning

Mesa Public Schools – Service Learning

Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Glendale Community College

Paradise Valley Community College