2. “Tell me and I forget, teach me
and I may remember, involve me
and I learn.”
—Benjamin Franklin
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. Common characteristics
of 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
14.
15. 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
16. 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.
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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
20. 4 Steps to Service-Learning Projects
1. Preparation
2. Action
3. Reflection
4. Celebration
Kennesaw State University Learn and Serve Center
www.kennesaw.edu/community/servicelearning/Page
s/steps.shtml
21. 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
22. 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!
23. You are not only
representing yourself,
but you are also
representing CLC
Community partners will
remember a sloppy
or unfinished project
24. 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
25. 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!
26. 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
27. 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
28. 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
