1. Service Learning Orientation Center For Student Involvement Located in Sierra Madre 267 (Next to the Cafeteria on the balcony) 818.240.1000, ext. 5580 or email us at CSI@glendale.edu The Center for Student Involvement initiates, implements, and sustains civic engagement opportunities that promote diversity, critical thinking, personal responsibility, and communication skills for all students involved in its programs.

2. What is Service Learning? Service Learning is a hands-on approach to teaching and learning. It is a way to connect the classroom to service/volunteering while meeting the needs of the community and helping students understand course material. For example, there is a great need in the community for math tutors. Students in math courses at GCC are placed at various school to help with tutoring younger students in math Service learning also allows students to take charge of their learning experience. As a service learner, you will make observations, interact with a diverse population, use your communication skills, and have an opportunity to think critically about your experience and reflect on what you have done and achieved You are not alone! Every year, approximately 1500 students at GCC participate in some form of volunteer, service learning or community service activity through the CSI

3. How to Find An Appropriate Placement Site/Agency Your professor will specify one of the following things: A specific list of agencies for you to choose from A single project (such as STAR or Shadow Day) in which you can participate in Allow you to go to any agency listed in our general database. YOU MUST KNOW WHICH OF THE ABOVE OPTIONS IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU, SO PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR TEACHER OR THE STAFF AT CSI. Remember, the goal of service learning is to connect service and learning/coursework. Therefore, when looking for a placement site or agency, you must look for places that would connect the two For example, if you are in an abnormal psychology course, it would not be appropriate to do paperwork for your service learning project. Instead, you would work with clients in a convalescent home or mental health clinic

4. Documenting Your Participation There are 3 forms needed to document your service learning experience. EACH FORM HAS ITS OWN SPECIFIC DEADLINE. BE SURE TO TURN IN YOUR PAPERWORK ON TIME. Application (This is usually a BLUE form) Placement Form (This is a usually a WHITE form) Sign In/Out Sheet (This is usually a GREEN form) All forms must be turned in to the Center For Student Involvement in Sierra Madre 267 If you miss the deadline, you will not be included in the report to your instructor. You are responsible for letting your professor know. Deadlines are published on our main website for each semester and are available in our office. Note that these forms are available in our office and are downloadable from our website: www.glendale.edu/CSI

5. How To Contact Your Placement Site When calling your placement site, here is a helpful guideline on how to introduce yourself. “Good Morning/Afternoon” “My name is _______________ and I’m enrolled in a ___________________ class at Glendale College.” “I need to complete ____ hours of service learning for my class by ____________ (Due Date).” “What types of volunteer opportunities do you currently have available?”

6. Contacting Your Placement Site Once you have made contact with someone at the agency and have set up a first meeting, you are ready to start! Remember that you MUST take your GREEN Sign In/Out Form to be signed by a supervisor at your agency If you do not get a chance to speak to someone at your agency directly, leave a message with the information in the previous slide If you do not hear from that agency within a day or two, you should try your other choices or look again for some new possible agencies Be persistent, but patient. Many non-profit agencies often lack the staffing that a private business may enjoy and may take a little longer to return calls

7. Problems and Questions During your service, you may encounter problems or issues that you are not sure how to handle. The CSI staff and student ambassadors are always here to discuss problems and offer assistance If you are facing problems relating your volunteer work to your classroom, speak to your professor

8. Conduct While Doing a Service Learning Project While you are doing your service at an agency, you are expected to follow the same guidelines of conduct as when you are in class or on campus Standards of student conduct are published in the Student Handbook, The GCC Catalogue, and on the GCC Website Major violations include: Dishonesty, cheating, plagiarism, forgery, alteration, or misuse of documents, records or identification Physical abuse of any person on college-owned or controlled property, or at college sponsored or supervised functions Possession while on college campus, or at a college sponsored function, or any item ordinarily considered to be a weapon NOTE: This is only a summary of major offenses

9. Keeping a Journal or Writing a Paper Based on Your Experience The following five slides are for students who must either write a paper or keep a journal of their experience while doing service learning. They are meant to stimulate thought on what to write. You can always add more detail or information that is not specified on the following pages.

10. Keeping a Journal One useful way of keeping track of your learning is to keep a journal of your activities. This will help you to think about what you are doing now and help you understand what you have learned over time Remember, a journal is NOT a log in which you list events, tasks, and statistics The idea of a journal is to write your thoughts and feelings freely and without regard for excellent punctuation. You should write both positive as well as negative aspects of your experience

11. Keeping a Journal (continued) If you write a brief entry after each time you go, it will be easier than waiting to write all your thoughts at the end The quality of your journal will depend on your observation skills Write ideas in your journal based on these topics: What Skills do you want to learn/improve? Why did you choose this organization? What may be a challenge you will face? How can you connect your service to your class at this agency?

12. When you Start… Think and write about: What types of people work there? What are your first impressions of the site? Describe the setting, people, activities. Describe any positive or negative impressions.

13. After a Week or Two… Think and Write About: How do the employees feel about their work? What activities have you been involved in? What is your reaction and relationship to staff? What is the history of this organization? Where does their funding come from? Is it sufficient to support the work they do?

14. After a Month or so… Think and Write About: Are you having an impact on the clients you serve? If so, what kind? If not, why not? Can you change this if you have no impact? What type of work are you doing? What need is served by this organization?

15. Towards the End… Think and Write about: Have your initial impressions changed? If no, what confirms your first impressions? If yes, how have they changed? What did you learn (positive and negative)? Where the needs of the clients served? Did you feel you had an impact overall? What one piece of advice would you give the agency?