OSRA 2005 Reif

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WORKSHOP Integrating Service Learning into
Information Systems Courses March 4, 2005 OSRA
2005 Dallas, Texas Harry L. Reif James
Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia USA
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Workshop Outline

• Identifying Potential Projects
• Avoiding Business Conflicts-of-Interest
• Aligning Course and Project Objectives
• Selecting and Managing Student Teams
• Avoiding Resolving Problems
• Results Everyone Wins!
• Sample Projects
• Faculty Considerations

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Identifying Potential Projects

• Key Protect Everyones Interest
• Students
• Is the environment safe? (people, organization,
  physical)
• Do/will students have the necessary experience?
• Clients
• Is this a Mission-Critical project?
• What potential harm could occur?
• University
• How will project affect Universitys reputation?
• Is this an organization that University wants to
  be affiliated with?
• Every Project MUST Have an Agency Sponsor

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Avoid Conflicts-of-Interest

• Dont compete with local businesses
• Find poor agencies
• Find small projects
• Talk with local businesses to find needy clients

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Align Course Project Objectives

• Define Project Goals Up Front
• Most agencies dont have IT expertise
• Most dont know what they need/want
• Agreed-upon List of Deliverables/Outcomes
• Remember Course Objectives
• Skills students already have
• Skills students are expected to learn
• Can Project be Completed in Time Available?
• Usually 10-12 weeks
• Remember Holidays Semester Breaks

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Selecting and Managing Student Teams

• Selecting Student Teams
• Applying for Projects
• Involving Project Sponsors
• Selection Criteria
• Experience
• Schedule Availability
• Transportation
• Managing Student Teams
• Status Reports
• Checkpoint Progress
• Problem Resolution
• Sponsor Problems
• Student Problems

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Avoiding Resolving Problems

• Common Problems
• Bad Project Definition
• Scope Creep
• Scheduling Problems
• Vendor Problems
• Sponsor Problems
• Running out of Time
• Resolving Problems

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Results Everyone Wins!

• Clients
• Immediate Needs Satisfied
• Ongoing Support many students remain involved
• Students
• Learn New Skills and How to Apply Them
• Real World Experience
• Imperfect Environments H/W, S/W, schedule,
  people
• Feel Good Volunteerism
• University/Town
• Improved Town-Gown Relationships
• Good P/R

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Sample Projects

• Blue Ridge Legal Aid
• Charlottesville/Albemarle Regional Airport
• City of Hburg Public Schools
• Rockingham County Public Schools
• VA School for Deaf and Blind
• Red Cross
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• Skyline Literacy Coalition
• Town of Shenandoah
• Massanutten Regional Library
• Sunnyside Retirement Community

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Faculty Considerations (aka Lessons Ive
Learned the Hard Way)

• Keep the Scope Simple
• Select Student with Open Schedules
• Project Sponsor MUST Commit to be Involved
• They Take Time
• Have Students Keep a Log
• Require Students to Document their Work
• Make it Fun for Everyone Students Will Compete
  to Volunteer!

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