Implementing Service Learning

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Implementing Service Learning
Dr. Mark J. BritzmanTali Salberg
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What exactly is service learning?

• A method by which young people learn and develop
  through active participation in thoughtfully
  organized service experiences.
• -- Alliance for Service-Learning

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More Specifically

• Service-learning involves students in organized
  service that meets community needs, is
  coordinated collaboratively by a school and the
  community, helps foster civic responsibility, is
  integrated into and enhances student learning,
  and provides structure for reflection.
• -- Freeman, NK Swick, KJ (2003)

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Yet Another!

• More than volunteerism, service-learning
  combines community work with classroom
  instruction, emphasizing reflection as well as
  action. It empowers students by making them
  responsible in a real world context, while giving
  them support, encouragement, information, and
  skills to be effective.
• -- Rosenberg, 2000

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Why Service Learning?

• Increased student engagement
• Improved academic achievement
• Improved thinking skills
• Improved character
• Improved social behavior
• Stronger ties to school community
• Exposure to new careers
• Positive school environments
• Stronger community groups
• Increased community support for schools
• -- National Commission on Service-Learning

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Objections to Service Learning

• It takes too much time and too many resources
• It will necessitate fund-raising
• There are liability concerns
• Service-learning should be resisted because it is
  a form of indoctrination (i.e., students will
  subscribe to a political views about the evils of
  capitalism)
• Theres NCLB to worry about!
• -- Speck, B.W. (2001)

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Upholding the ASCA model

• Academic Development Standard A
• Self-concept student will take pride in work and
  in achievement
• Improving learning student will apply time
  management and task management skills
• School success student will demonstrate
  dependability, productivity, and initiative

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Upholding the ASCA model

• Academic Development Standard C
• Life experiences students will demonstrate the
  ability to balance school, studies,
  extracurricular activities, leisure time, and
  family life
• Life experiences student will seek co-curricular
  and community experiences to enhance the school
  experience

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Upholding the ASCA model

• Career Development Standard A
• Career awareness students will develop an
  awareness of personal abilities, skills,
  interests, and motivations

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Upholding the ASCA model

• Personal/Social Development Standard A
• Acquiring self-knowledge students will develop a
  positive attitude toward self as a unique and
  worthy person

• Personal/Social Development Standard C
• Acquiring personal safety skills students will
  identify resource people in the school and
  community, and know how to seek their help

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Linkage to School Mission Statement

• Brookings School District
• The mission of the Brookings School District is
  to ensure that all students graduate with the
  knowledge and skills for continuous development
  as productive global citizens through a
  partnership of school, family and community in a
  dynamic, healthy environment.

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Brandon Valley Mission Statement

• We will prepare our students to be life long
  learners and productive citizens through a
  positive learning environment with the
  cooperation of students, education staff,
  parents, guardians, and community.

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Getting Started
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Getting Started

• Assess the Needs and Resources of Your Community
  and School
• Form Community Partnerships
• Set Specific Educational Goals and Curriculum
• Select a Project and Begin Preliminary Planning
• Plan Your Project in Detail
• -- Students in Service to America (2002)

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Getting Started (cont).

• Acquire Necessary Funding and Resources
• Implement and Manage Project
• Organize Reflection Activities
• Assess and Evaluate Your Service Program
• Celebrate Achievements
• -- Students in Service to America (2002)

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Service Learning Project Ideas

• Age Appropriate for K-5th Students
• Making placemats for a soup kitchen or homeless
  shelter
• Read-a-thon projects, where students read to
  younger kids
• Initiating a litter patrol at school during lunch
  or recess
• Collecting used books for a shelter for homeless
  children
• Performing plays and skits depicting community
  problems and their solutions
• Visiting senior citizens who live in a nearby home

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Service Learning Project Ideas

• Age Appropriate for 6th-8th Students
• Youth Action Councils, where they design service
  activities for other young people in the
  community
• Helping food banks with inventory
• Participating in a community clean up
• Volunteering at a soup kitchen, nursing home or
  daycare centers
• Starting a conflict resolution program
• Tutoring elementary students after school
• Planting a garden at a homeless shelter

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Service Learning Project Ideas

• Age Appropriate for 9th-12th Students
• Cleaning a polluted lake or river
• Researching general information on political
  platforms and distributing it to peers
• Making a panel for the AIDS Quilt and give
  awareness presentations
• Helping design a playground in an underprivileged
  neighborhood
• Holding a forum about racism to form possible
  community solutions
• Setting up a peer counseling program

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Tips for Building Relationships with Youth

• Listen really listen to young people
• Ask challenging questions
• Reflect on your own experiences as a young person
• Provide young people with the information,
  training and support they need to succeed

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Tips for Building Relationships with Youth

• Do not stereotype young people do not blame all
  young people for the actions of one
• Be patient and have the courage to set aside your
  fears
• Be straight up and explain where you are coming
  from
• Hold young people accountable for their decisions
  and actions
• Be personal and share yourself
• -- Points of Light Foundation

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Reflection of Experience
Telling Have informal discussions Invite
community partners and agencies to hear about
service completed Make a presentation to
PTA Writing Write a personal or group
journal Write a news article school or community
newspaper Write a paper about the community need
that was addressed
Doing Present a service fair Make a video or
PowerPoint slide show Draw a picture Paint a
mural Create a collage Make a scrapbook Perform
a skit or play Reading Read stories about
service and relate them to service work
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Resources

• www.pointsoflight.org
• www.dosomething.org
• www.americaspromise.org
• www.learnandserve.org
• www.servicelearning.org
• www.ecs.org/clc
• www.nationalservice.org
• www.fourhcouncil.edu
• www.1-800-vounteer.org

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Final Thoughts

• Young people have the gifts and talents to raise
  their villages. They lack only the confidence
  of their villages in them to do it.
• -- From It Takes a Child to Raise a Whole Village

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Final Thoughts

• We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors
  we borrow it from our children.
• - Haida Indian saying

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References

• Allen, R. (2003). The democratic aims of
  service-learning. Educational Leadership, 51-54.
• Brigman, G. Molina, B. (1999). The journal of
  Individual Psychology, 55, pp. 342-352.
• Eyler, J. (2002). Reflection Linking service
  and learning-linking students and communities.
  Journal of Social Issues, 58, pp. 517-534.
• Freeman, N.K. Swick, K.J. (2003). Pre-service
  interns implement service-learning Helping
  young children reach out to their community.
  Early Childhood Education Journal, 31, 107-111.
• Freeman, N.K. King, S. (2001).
  Service-learning in pre-school An
  intergenerational project involving
  five-years-olds, fifth graders, and senior
  citizens. Early Childhood Educational
  Leadership, 28, 211-218.
• Gray, M.J., Ondaatge, H. (2001). Assessing
  service-learning. Change, March-April, 30-39.

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References

• Krystal, S. (1998). The nurturing potential of
  service learnings. Educational Leadership,
  58-61.
• Lindauer, P. Petric, G. (1999). Making your
  districts service-learning program work.
  Education,
• 120, 88-92.
• Pentrice, M. Garcia, R.M. (2000).
  Service-learning. The next generation in
  education. Community Journal of Research and
  Practice, 24, 19-26.
• Rubin, M.S. (2001). A smart-start to
  service-learning. In (Eds). New Directions for
  Higher Educaton. John Wiley Sons, Inc.
• Search Institute (2000). An asset builders
  guide to service learning. Minneapolis, MN
  Search Institute.
• Speck, B.W. (2001). New directions for high
  education. John Wiley Sons, Inc.