2 integrating service learning into the traditional classroom nicholas holton kirtland community...

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Integrating Service Learning into the Traditional Classroom

Nicholas Holton

Kirtland Community College

http://kirtland.edu/service/

Nicholas HoltonKirtland Community College

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Definition of Service Learning

Community Service Learning is a pedagogical model that connects meaningful community service experiences with academic course learning.

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A Context for Service-Learning

1. Service-learning is an effective pedagogy - an academically rigorous method to teach course content in a discipline.

2. Service-learning as an engaged pedagogy is not the goal - it is a means to an end - a means to the end of civic education.

3. Service-learning is a movement in higher education - transforming colleges and universities in every sector, in many disciplines, across the country and internationally.


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Benefits of Service Learning

• Enriches student learning of course material

• Engages students in active learning that demonstrates the relevance of their academic work

• Increases awareness of current societal issues as they relate to academic areas.


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Benefits of Service Learning

• Broadens perspectives of diversity issues and enhances critical thinking.

• Improves interpersonal skills.

• Develops civic responsibility through active community involvement.




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Benefits of Service Learning Community:

• Provides substantial human resources to meet educational, human, safety, and environmental needs of local communities.

• Allows the energy and enthusiasm of students to contribute to meeting needs.

• Fosters an ethic of service and civic participation in students.

• Creates potential for additional partnerships and collaboration.


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The Best Service Learning Programs

1. Are bound directly to the academic curriculum.

2. Meet a real community need.

3. Provide for structured group reflection time.

4. Engage students in group decisions and problem solving.

5. Match the skills of students with community needs.

6. Provide a wide variety of options for students.

7. Provide recognition for services rendered.


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Service Learning: Essential Elements

Reciprocity Reflection Development:

Enabling to empowering; Observation, to experience; Following to leadership.

Meaningful Service Diversity




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Ways to Integrate a Service Component

• Independent 4th credit option

• Required within a course

• Option within a course

• Class Service Projects

• Disciplinary Capstone Projects

• Service Research Projects




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Principles of Good Practice

• Academic credit is for learning, not for service

• Do not compromise academic rigor

• Set learning goals for students

• Establish criteria for the selection of community service placements


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Principles of Good Practice

• Provide educationally-sound mechanisms to harvest the community learning

• Provide supports for students to learn how to harvest the community learning

• Minimize the distinction between the community and classroom learning roles

• Re-think the faculty instructional role

• Prepare for variation in student outcomes

• Maximize the community responsibility


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Resources and Support Services


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www.micampuscompact.org/ https://secure.stulife.cmich.edu/VolunteerCenter/


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Service Learning Project Design

•Lunch Discussion Results (open discussion)•Enhanced Academic Learning •Relevant Service


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The Counternormative Nature of Academic Service-Learning

TraditionalClassroom

CommunityClassroom

ServiceLearning

Classroom

StudentResponsibility

individualresponsibility

socialresponsibility

socialresponsibility

StudentÕs Rolepassive active active

InstructorÕsRole

directive facilitative facilitative

LearningMethodology deductive inductive both

PedagogyŅbankingÓ constructivistic synergistic

Epistemologypositivistic subjectivistic both


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Promoting Learning:[Cognitive Sciences Suggest Six Foci]

1. Approaches that emphasize application and experience2. Approaches in which faculty constructively model the learning

process3. Approaches that emphasize linking established concepts to new

situations4. Approaches the emphasize interpersonal collaboration5. Approaches that emphasize rich and frequent feedback on

performances6. Curricula that consistently develop a limited set of clearly

identified, cross-disciplinary skills that are publicly held to be important

*source: Peter Ewel, “Organizing for Learning.” AAHE Bulletin, December, 1997, pp. 3-6


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The Kolb Learning Cycle

ConcreteExperience

ReflectiveObservation

AbstractConceptualizatio

n

ActionExperimentation


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Steps to Develop and Execute A Service Learning Strategy

1. Consider the courses you teach and determine how community service might be helpful to enrich learning in that discipline.

2. With service sites or activities in mind, consider your goals and motives in using the application.


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3. Based upon your motives, goals, and objectives, choose a course service option.

4. Once you have chosen how service will be incorporated, review and alter your course objectives and syllabus to reflect the change.


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5. On the first day of class, explain and promote the ideas behind including Service Learning in your class. Explain the benefits to the student and the community.

6. Work with students to develop specific service and learning objectives for their service experiences.


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7. Teach students how to harvest the service experience for knowledge.

8. Link the service experience to your academic course content through deliberate and guided reflection.

http://www.compact.org/disciplines/reflection/

9. Evaluate your Service Learning outcomes as you would any other product.


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Syllabus Addendum

• Mathematics is an integral part of many jobs and situations we face. Many times it is used so often that we don’t even think about it. Thus as we prepare for a future vocation it important to see, yes even experience mathematics in real situations. If we can experience the math we will need in our chosen field the academic preparation becomes even more intrinsically important. To this end, the following activity will allow you to experience the math needed in your program.

• Throughout the semester you will have the opportunity to work at a community service agency in a field of your choice. This is an opportunity for you to study mathematics related to your field. It is expected that the student will make this a worthwhile experience for himself or herself, and for the participating organization.

• The following is a list of requirements, definitions and a timetable for the completions of this project. This is a required lab activity and will be treated as all the other labs. Failure to complete this part will be recorded as a zero for that lab grade. Since there are few labs, missing any one will significantly affect your grade. Thus it is imperative that you stay current and complete each section as the due dates indicate.


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Advice on Designing a Service Learning Course

1. Are course goals and objectives realistic?

2. Has advance planning taken place with the community agency to effectively integrate service-based learning with course goals and objectives?

3. What provisions have been made for evaluation and assessment?


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Service Learning Websites:

• AAHE: www.aahe.org/service/• AACC: www.aacc.nche.edu/servicelearning• www.colorado.edu/servicelearning/• Campus Compact www.Compact.org • National Service-Learning Clearinghouse www.

ServiceLearning.org• Service-Learning – Higher Education Guide www.

ServiceLearningHigherEd.com


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Recent Student Comments Concerning Their Service Learning Projects

• ... I fell that this was a good learning experience. I felt I walked away with more knowledge. ..I had a pretty good idea of how math was involved and I would definitely volunteer more.

• ... It should also stay in the curriculum. .... You grow up taking math classes and you question why you need to know this, ” I’m never going to use it”. The community service activity helps you realize that you do use math some of it consciously and sometimes unconsciously.

• ... My experience was wonderful. I like volunteering because I meet people and if you mess up something you can’t get fired...

• ... I think it’s weird that it’s required in a math class. I would expect it in a speech, English or Health class but not math. I always think of math as a class you have to take to get out of the way, not to have to apply to your everyday life.

• ... I would not trade this experience in for any other that I have experienced at school and I am also considering helping her out as much as I can.

2 integrating service learning into the traditional classroom nicholas holton kirtland community...

Documents

community learning

service learning strategy

community needs

community responsibility

student learning

active learning

learning goals

learning process