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Service Learning

This guide explores the benefits, challenges, and possible solutions related to service learning in higher education. It highlights the positive impact on students, faculty, colleges, and the community, and provides resources for effective implementation.

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Service Learning

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  1. Service Learning Joe Bandy Center for Teaching Vanderbilt University

  2. Introductions • Students as Producers year • In pairs, discuss • Experiences with Service Learning • Benefits • Challenges

  3. Starting Points • “Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife.” John Dewey, School and Society, 1889. • National Service Learning Clearinghouse: • “a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.”   • Janet S. Eyler (winner of the 2003 Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service Learning) and Dwight E. Giles, Jr.: • “a form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as students. . . seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves. In the process, students link personal and social development with academic and cognitive development. . . experience enhances understanding; understanding leads to more effective action.”

  4. Starting Points • Service Learning, related to… • Community-based Teaching or Learning • Civic Education • Civic Engagement • Public Scholarship

  5. Benefits: Students(Eyler, Giles, Stenson and Gray 2001) • Learning Outcomes • Content learning • Application of knowledge to “the real world” • Understanding, problem-solving, critical thinking • Complexity and ambiguity • Personal Outcomes • Personal efficacy, spiritual growth, and moral development • Interpersonal development, leadership and communication skills • Social Outcomes • Reduced stereotypes and greater inter-cultural understanding • Social responsibility and citizenship skills • Continuing community engagement after graduation • Career Development • Networking for learning and career opportunities • Relationship with the Institution • Relationships with faculty • Satisfaction with college • Graduation rates

  6. Benefits: Faculty, College, Community • Faculty • Satisfaction with student learning • New avenues for research • Networking with faculty in other disciplines or institutions • Stronger commitment to one’s research • College • Institutional commitment to the curriculum • Student retention • Community relations • Community • Satisfaction with student participation • Human resources needed to achieve community goals • New energy, enthusiasm and perspectives • Community-university relations

  7. Models • Service-Based • One-time project • Optional assignment • Problem-Based • Capstone • Internship • Independent/Honors Action Research • Multi-course Projects

  8. Challenges • Time commitment • Ensuring positive community impact • Ensuring student learning

  9. Discussion: Solutions • In groups of 3, each of you take 1 of these problems and discuss one potential solution: • Time commitment • Ensuring positive community impact • Ensuring student learning

  10. Possible Solutions • Time commitment • Clear goals • Staff/Faculty assistance, TA • Schedule flexibility for student participation, community too • Not reinventing the wheel • Resources, incentives for faculty engagement

  11. Possible Solutions • Time commitment • Center for Teaching • Public Service Offices • Community Partnership Databases

  12. Possible Solutions • Ensuring positive community impact • Use existing community relationships • Clear goals and expectations • Assessment and improvements • Rigorous needs & asset assessment

  13. Possible Solutions • Ensuring positive community impact • Assessing Community Needs • Building Trust through Reciprocity • Creative and Flexible Projects • Realistic Project Goals • Managing Community Expectations • Ensuring Continuity • Adhering to IRB Guidelines • Assessing Impacts

  14. Possible Solutions(Saltmarsh, Hartley, & Clayton 2009) • Democratic vs Technocratic Engagement • Power sharing • Shared governance vs. University decision making • Stakeholder relationships • Partnership vs. Consultant-Client • Solving problems • Asset-based collaboration vs. Problem-based solution • Outcomes • Stakeholder change vs. Stakeholder stasis

  15. Possible Solutions • Ensuring student learning • Student preparation • Student reflection • Student involvement in project planning

  16. Possible Solutions • Ensuring student learning • Content rigor • Community orientation • Safety precautions • Skills training • Ethics training • Logistical support • Assignments • Reflection • Project failure • Unforeseen obstacles • Confounding results

  17. Further Resources • Service Learning and Community Engagement teaching guide

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