Community Service-Learning and the Humanities Dr. Tania Smith University of Calgary

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Community Service-Learning and the
HumanitiesDr. Tania SmithUniversity of
Calgary  A Lecture sponsored by St. Thomas More
Colleges Engaged Learning and English
Departments, University of Saskatchewan
Thursday, January 15, 2009 400 p.m.
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Background narrative

• English Studies, University of Alberta (BA hons,
  MA) and Ohio State University (PhD)
• Literature and history
• Narratives, culture
• Education, persuasion
• Community-building questions
• Tutoring and mentoring foreign students of the
  Humanities

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Elements of CSL Experiential Learning

• Jane Austen Society, Juvenilia Press J R.
  McMaster and Bruce Stovel
• Co-editing, theatrical production, conference
  planning and participation
• Still on Academic terms
• Involving academic nonacademic participants

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Community Service Learning

• A step beyond common forms of academic
  experiential learning
• 3 way partnership model teacher, students,
  community
• Equal value of academic learning and social
  engagement
• Students learn to bridge 2 audiences and
  teachers, 2 interpretive communities

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Humanistic Learning Traditions

• Isocrates
• Plato
• Cicero
• Renaissance republic of letters advice to
  princes genre
• 18c British dissenting academies
• 18c British Women Writers

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CSL in Humanities education

• additional resources for critical thought.
• avenues for "creativity" in learning
• active, interpersonal engagement in learning
  involving participants outside the classroom
• increased elements of collaborative learning and
  community
• demonstrates to the public, parents and graduates
  the relevance and value of humanities studies

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NSSE

• National Survey of Student Engagement Question
  Areas
• Active and Collaborative Learning
• Student - Faculty Interaction
• Enriching Educational Experiences (including CSL
  question)
• Level of Academic Challenge
• Supportive Campus Environment

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CSL-related NSSE questions

• Tutored or taught students (paid or voluntary)
• Participated in a community-based project
• "Synthesized" new ideas and information, as well
  as "made judgments" and "applied theories"
  regarding them
• Participated in a practicum, internship, or field
  experience

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U of C NSSE data by faculty
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U of C NSSE data by faculty
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Forms of Humanities CSL

• Mentors high school, community. i.e.
  Humanities 101
• Small group discussion facilitators in
  events/forums
• Nonacademic co-editors,
• Researchers, historians, analysts
• Communicators

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Challenges Answers
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Challenges Answers
Challenges Answers
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Further CSL inquiry / steps

• local resources, expertise, mentorship
• bibliographies, websites, associations
• piloting small scale, optional projects
• involving students in research and development
• tenure/promotion/evaluation policies
• flexibility, credit / noncredit
• consulting involving stakeholders

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Hybrid Model On-Campus CSL

• Serving other university communities/units
  (library, writing center, task forces, SU, clubs)
• Academia lacks resources, needs to develop
  community
• Undergraduate course-based peer mentoring
• Mentoring course / Host courses CSL structure
• Peer Mentors as aids for many forms of
  interactive learning including CSL
• unlike TA/Instructor relationship
• Instructors learn some principles of CSL