Transcript Service-Learning 101 - University of Georgia

Service-Learning 101
Fundamentals of Service-Learning
For GEN Clubs!
Learning Objective
for This Session
• To understand what we mean by
service-learning, why we think it is
an effective teaching strategy, and
how to create and implement
quality service-learning projects
with young people.
Agenda
• What is it? (Defining service-learning)
• Why should I care? (Benefits of servicelearning)
• What does it look like?
(Best practices of
service-learning)
• How do I start? (Service-learning resources)
What’s in a Name?
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Volunteerism
Service-Learning
Youth Service
Community Service
Experiential Education
Community-based (or place-based)
Learning
Toward a Definition
Service-Learning is a teaching method that
combines meaningful service to the
community with curriculum-based learning.
•Students improve their academic skills…
•By applying what they learn in school to real life
situations…
•And then reflecting on their experience to reinforce
and link their service to their learning.
Community Service
If students
remove trash
from a
streambed…
they are
providing a
service to the
community as
volunteers.
Service-Learning
• When students remove trash from a
streambed,
• Analyze what they found,
• Share the results and offer suggestions for
the neighborhood to reduce pollution,
• And then reflect on their experience,
including how it related to the curricular
learning objective….
That is service-learning!
Service-Learning is NOT:
• An episodic volunteer program
• An add-on to an existing school or college
curriculum
• Completing minimum service hours in order
to graduate
• Service assigned as a form of punishment
• Only for high school or college students
• One-sided: benefiting only students or only
the community
Head, Hand, and Heart
When implemented effectively, servicelearning can have dramatic impact on…
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The Head (cognitive/academic impact)
The Hand (civic/citizenship impact)
The Heart (social/personal impact)
As well as on the Health of the planet.
Best Practices
Head
Hand
Heart
•Cognitive Dev’t
•Test scores
•Attendance
•School
engagement
•Community
awareness
•Career exploration
•Problem solving
•Navigate local
governance
•Research
•Collaboration
•Communication &
deliberation
•Community &
political
involvement
•Efficacy
•Civic pride and
responsibility
•Sense of right and
wrong
•Valued by adults
& community
•Self concept
•Intergenerational
connectedness
Best Practices Cont.
• Use of democratic principles to make
decisions
There is a sense of fairness in decision making
• Cooperation
Students support one another; there is a “we” spirit;
problems are addressed
• Academic Learning
Great knowledge gains; learning was associated with
curricular standards and/or objectives
And WHAT About EE?
“Environmental Education is aimed at
producing a citizenry that is
knowledgeable concerning the
biophysical environment and its
associated problems, aware of how to
help solve problems, and motivated to
work towards their solution.”
Williams B. Stapp, et al
Linking S-L and EE
Service-Learning
Environmental Education
• Youth voice
• Reflection
• Meaningful interaction with
the community
• Use of democratic
principles to make decisions
• Cooperation
• Academic Learning
•Increase awareness and
knowledge
•Addresses student attitudes
about issues
•Provides an understanding of
the skills needed to solve
issues
•Provides opportunities for
participation in solving issues
Resources
• National Service-Learning Clearinghouse www.servicelearning.org
• National Service-Learning Exchange –
www.nslexchange.org
• National Service-Learning Partnership – www.servicelearningpartnership.org
• Learn and Serve America – www.learnandserve.gov
• Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning &
Engagement (CIRCLE) – www.civicyouth.org
• National Youth Leadership Council – www.nylc.org