Friday, December 14, 2012

Service Learning

What is service learning?
Service learning is an experiental form of learning, much as occurs on a daily basis in our science courses.  From a teacher's perspective, it is creating the groundwork for an experience that will be intended to further the concepts emphasized in class and putting these concepts into practice to benefit one's community, whether that be school, student body, town, or nation.


Why is service learning good to use?
This teaching pedagogy shows students the relevance of their learning.  Service helps imprint upon one's mind and heart why the education that one is receiving is a gift, and one to be shared. 
Through projects that involve the application of classroom knowledge to practical situations, the relevance to what is being learned in the classroom becomes clear.
Cooperation with one another, interaction with others outside of their age groups and social circles, and gaining a worldly perspective on social issues are all reasons that service learning is beneficial.
Finally, the extension and linking of knowledge from course content to experience to reflection, provides an avenue for more comprehensive learning and overall retention of the material.


Blueprint for service learning
1.  COURSE CONTENT LINK-- Consider, with colleagues, what the end goals are for various units, etc., and how service learning could be used to meet or assess some of these end objectives.  This could be a place where common core or state benchmarks play a role.    Come up with a list of plausible service learning experiences based on these outcomes and genuine community needs.  Finally, develop formative assessment pieces (likely reflective essays, journals, and research papers) that will tie in nicely with the service learning project and curricular goals.

2.  MAP IT OUT-- Begin mapping out the service learning as you would any other unit project.  You have already considered the learning objectives, now it is time to determine more concrete portions to the service learning project.  Consider the following:
Who will be your community partners in this project?
-->What community organizations could benefit from your service learning project?
-->Should someone from this organization come speak and prepare your students for the experience?
What are the logistics of the service learning project?
-->travel expense and arrangements
-->time scheduling
-->safety considerations
-->weather considerations
-->school district protocol for projects, trips, etc.
-->funding considerations
How will you explain this learning opportunity to your students and lay the groundwork for their investment?
-->plan a lesson to educate them about your learning intentions from them
-->allow student input and questions to give them ownership in the project
How will you involve parents, colleagues, and administrators in the process?
-->administrative support will help the project run smoothly
-->parental support could open avenues for community involvement
-->colleagues may have ideas for how they can connect the learning to their content as well
What resources will you need to make the plan a reality?
-->materials for projects (area businesses may be willing to donate, etc.)
-->fundraising that students organize and you oversee

3.  IMPLEMENTING THE SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT-- Implement the project and remember to be flexible, as the plan will need continual adjusting.



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