Service-Learning 101

1. Service-Learning 101 Fundamentals of Service-Learning For GEN Clubs!

2. Learning Objective for This Session • To understand what we mean by service-learning, why we think it is an effective teaching strategy, and how to create and implement quality service-learning projects with young people.

3. Agenda • What is it?(Defining service-learning) • Why should I care?(Benefits of service-learning) • What does it look like?(Best practices of service-learning) • How do I start? (Service-learning resources)

4. What’s in a Name? • Volunteerism • Service-Learning • Youth Service • Community Service • Experiential Education • Community-based (or place-based) Learning

5. Toward a Definition • Students improve their academic skills… • By applying what they learn in school to real life situations… • And then reflecting on their experience to reinforce and link their service to their learning.

6. Community Service If students remove trash from a streambed… they are providing a service to the community as volunteers.

7. Service-Learning • When students remove trash from a streambed, • Analyze what they found, • Share the results and offer suggestions for the neighborhood to reduce pollution, • And then reflect on their experience, including how it related to the curricular learning objective…. That is service-learning!

8. Service-Learning is NOT: • An episodic volunteer program • An add-on to an existing school or college curriculum • Completing minimum service hours in order to graduate • Service assigned as a form of punishment • Only for high school or college students • One-sided: benefiting only students or only the community

9. Head, Hand, and Heart When implemented effectively, service-learning can have dramatic impact on… • The Head (cognitive/academic impact) • The Hand (civic/citizenship impact) • The Heart (social/personal impact) • As well as on the Health of the planet.

10. Best Practices

11. Best Practices Cont. • Use of democratic principles to make decisions There is a sense of fairness in decision making • Cooperation Students support one another; there is a “we” spirit; problems are addressed • Academic Learning Great knowledge gains; learning was associated with curricular standards and/or objectives

12. And WHAT About EE? “Environmental Education is aimed at producing a citizenry that is knowledgeable concerning the biophysical environment and its associated problems, aware of how to help solve problems, and motivated to work towards their solution.” Williams B. Stapp, et al

13. Linking S-L and EE Service-Learning • Youth voice • Reflection • Meaningful interaction with the community • Use of democratic principles to make decisions • Cooperation • Academic Learning • Environmental Education • Increase awareness and knowledge • Addresses student attitudes about issues • Provides an understanding of the skills needed to solve issues • Provides opportunities for participation in solving issues

14. Resources • National Service-Learning Clearinghouse - www.servicelearning.org • National Service-Learning Exchange – www.nslexchange.org • National Service-Learning Partnership – www.service-learningpartnership.org • Learn and Serve America – www.learnandserve.gov • Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) – www.civicyouth.org • National Youth Leadership Council – www.nylc.org