Leadership/Service Learning Who Says You Can’t Change The World ?

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act H.R Signed April 21, 2009 by President Obama Reauthorizes and Expands the Mission of The Corporation for National and Community Service by: Increasing Opportunities for Americans of All Ages to Serve “We need your service, right now, at this moment in history. I am not going to tell you what your role should be, that should be for you to discover. But I am asking you to stand up and play your part. And together, we will measure our progress not just in number of hours served or volunteers mobilized – but in the impact our efforts will have on the life of this nation.” President Obama

National Service Bill Will Expand Service Opportunities for ML/HS Students Most significant expansion of service/volunteer opportunities for ML/HS students in generations. Increase opportunities for students to get involved with service and boost service initiatives focused on education. (Largest expansion since President Kennedy/50yrs) Research shows that youth who engage regularly in service are more likely to be philanthropic as adults and more likely to pursue college. The GIVE ACT (Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act) will create a Summer of Service Program to engage ML/HS students in volunteer activities. Establish Service Learning Programs that will build partnerships between community based organizations and schools.

Video Example from Learn & Serve America Learn & Serve America: Bring Learning To Life

What is Service Learning ? Service Learning is a teaching method that includes service to others. With service learning students: –connect academics across the curriculum –meet real community needs –become leaders who contribute ideas, make decisions, and solve problems - discover benefits for everyone involved –get to work with community partners –develop as active members of society

Core Components of Service Learning Investigation: –Students research on the community problems of interest. Planning: –Students, often working with community partners, outline varied ways they will meet the community need/contribute to improving the situation. – Planning to include: developing a vision, what will occur, creating a timeline. Action: –Students implement their plans to meet the community need. – Looks like direct service, indirect service Reflection: –Students reflect on how the experience, knowledge, and skills relate to their own lives/community. Demonstration/Celebration: –Students provide evidence to others of their accomplishments. Students –Students showcase what and how they have learned and their acquired skills/knowledge.

How is Service Learning Different from Community Service or Volunteer Work ? The “education of student” is always at its core. Students are actively participating in the process of understanding, integrating, and applying knowledge from various academic subjects. The question “Why am I doing/learning this?” disappears as they see what they have learned in action.

How Do Students Benefit From Service Learning ? Develop responsibility, make decisions, solve problems. Improvement in many academic areas. Have a better sense of self. Develop the ability to work well with others. Experience positive relationships with peers and community members Be exposed to career options. Make a positive contribution to their community. Begin to develop a lifelong commitment to public service and to learning. RESEARCH shows that service learning positively affects youth in three general areas: –Academic engagement/achievement –Civic attitudes/behaviors –Social/Personal Skills For example: - A Philadelphia study found that 6th grade students participating in service learning programs had higher test scores than non participants in test for language arts and science. - Students in service learning had a stronger set of job and career related skills and aspirations than students that did not participate..

Hunger & Homelessness Across The Curriculum

Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves. Helen Keller