The Nuts and Bolts ofThe Nuts and Bolts ofService-LearningService-Learning

SCHOOLS + AGENCIES = SCHOOLS + AGENCIES =

SERVICE-LEARNING SERVICE-LEARNING March 10, 2006March 10, 2006

What is Service Learning?What is Service Learning?

A teaching strategy that integrates meaningful A teaching strategy that integrates meaningful service to the community into the classroom service to the community into the classroom

curriculum. This experiential method gets curriculum. This experiential method gets students out of the classroom and into the students out of the classroom and into the

school community and into the community at school community and into the community at large, where they learn to use their academic large, where they learn to use their academic

knowledge to address real needs.knowledge to address real needs.

Through Service-Learning community Through Service-Learning community organizations can become part of the “village” organizations can become part of the “village”

that educates our youth.that educates our youth.

How is service-learning different How is service-learning different from community service?from community service?

SERVICE LEARNINGSERVICE LEARNING Focus - Learning from Focus - Learning from

experienceexperience Academics -Teaching of Academics -Teaching of

contentcontent Emphasis – Service Emphasis – Service Participants – Class/team Participants – Class/team

buildingbuilding Reflection – Time to Reflection – Time to

interpret the experienceinterpret the experience

COMMUNITY SERVICECOMMUNITY SERVICE Focus – Getting the job Focus – Getting the job

donedone Academics – No Academics – No

emphasisemphasis Emphasis – HoursEmphasis – Hours Participants – IndividualsParticipants – Individuals

Reflection – No time to Reflection – No time to reflectreflect

CommunitiesCommunities Youth as active citizensYouth as active citizens Establish partnerships with schoolsEstablish partnerships with schools Unmet needs are addressed and problems Unmet needs are addressed and problems

solvedsolved Access school resourcesAccess school resources Diversify your volunteer baseDiversify your volunteer base Receive help in reaching agency goalsReceive help in reaching agency goals New energy and commitment for the New energy and commitment for the

community and the common goodcommunity and the common good Youth as resources in the communityYouth as resources in the community

AgenciesAgencies

New partners in fulfilling the mission of your New partners in fulfilling the mission of your organizationorganization

Real service accomplished by enthusiastic and Real service accomplished by enthusiastic and creative volunteerscreative volunteers

New ideas, energy & enthusiasmNew ideas, energy & enthusiasm Positive visibility in the school and communityPositive visibility in the school and community A new, committed generation of volunteersA new, committed generation of volunteers Strong partnerships with local schoolsStrong partnerships with local schools Educating studentsEducating students Opportunities for new resourcesOpportunities for new resources

Environment Across the CurriculumEnvironment Across the Curriculum English/Language Arts - Writing a story about a

natural local setting and sharing that story with younger students.

Social Studies/History – Research government

policies about an local environmentally sensitive area and share your findings with local legislators.

Languages – Find out the words for “recycle, reuse,” and “Conserve” in many languages and create a poster to remind others to recycle.

Theater, Music & Visual Arts- Create raps or jingles to promote clean schools and playgrounds

Environment Across the CurriculumEnvironment Across the Curriculum Math- Review school water or electric bills and develop

a conservation program to reduce costs

Physical Education – Study the effects of pollution on the lungs and overall health and create a way to share that with others.

Computer- Find out what happens to discarded computers in your community and research options for re-use that can be shared with your community.

Science - Compare the effects of compost and recycling with landfills and incinerated waste and create a successful waste reduction program for your school.

Seven Elements of High Seven Elements of High Quality Service LearningQuality Service Learning

1.1. Integrated Learning – Life skills learned Integrated Learning – Life skills learned outside the classroom are integrated back outside the classroom are integrated back into classroom learning.into classroom learning.

2.2. High Quality Service - Responds to an High Quality Service - Responds to an actual community needactual community need

3.3. Collaboration – Partners benefit from the Collaboration – Partners benefit from the projectproject

Seven Elements of High Seven Elements of High Quality Service LearningQuality Service Learning

4.4. Student Voice – Take on roles/tasks that are Student Voice – Take on roles/tasks that are age appropriate.age appropriate.

55. Civic Responsibility – Students learn how . Civic Responsibility – Students learn how they can impact their communitythey can impact their community

66. Reflection – Establishes connections . Reflection – Establishes connections between service experience and the academic between service experience and the academic curriculumcurriculum

77. Evaluation – Measures progress toward . Evaluation – Measures progress toward learning and servicelearning and service

The Learning Pyramid

National Training Laboratories - Bethel, ME

Things to think about when Things to think about when planningplanning

Explore ways youth service can help meet your Explore ways youth service can help meet your agencies mission.agencies mission.

Identify things you would like to have done that you do Identify things you would like to have done that you do not have time or staff to complete.not have time or staff to complete.

Look at items on your “to do” list that never seem to Look at items on your “to do” list that never seem to get off your list.get off your list.

Think about how your project can enhance classroom Think about how your project can enhance classroom learning by providing hands on experience.learning by providing hands on experience.

Identify what students can learn from your Identify what students can learn from your organization.organization.

Provide some time for students and staff to reflect on Provide some time for students and staff to reflect on what they have learned and what they have what they have learned and what they have accomplished.accomplished.