Creating a Culture of Caring Kids: Fostering Social Innovation Through Service Learning Monica M. Alicea, Ph.D.

What is Service Learning? Instructional Approach Service Objectives Change in Student and Service Recipient Learning Objectives Philosophy of Learning Social Responsibility Experiential Learning (Dewey, Kolb) Global Citizenship

Service: Contributing to and/or helping to benefit others and the common good. Learning Service Learning: Gaining knowledge of a subject or skill through study, instruction, or experience.

Elements of High Quality Service Learning Meaningful Service Curriculum Connection Student Voice Partnerships Reflection Evaluation Meaningful Service: responds to a community need, age appropriate, well-organized, benefits students and community Curriculum Connection: instructional strategy intentionally used to meet curriculum goals and address standards, academic learning content informs service and service informs academic learning content Student Voice: Students play an active role in planning, implementing, and evaluating service learning projects-adults fascilitate Partnerships: Collaboration among students, staff, administrators, community Reflection: Ongoing (before, during, after), promotes deep thinking, makes connections between SLP and standards, makes connections between self and relationship to society Evaluation: All partners (including students) monitor the progress of the SLP and assess implementation, did project meet objectives and goals, uses results for improvement

Defining Community Community is defined according to the service learning activity

Approaches to Service Learning Direct Service Indirect Service Advocacy Research Direct Service- service provided by students directly affects recipients…most of the time is face-to-face Indirect Service: provide service to community as a whole…may not meet recipients Advocacy- students create awareness of or promote action on an issue of public interest Research-students find, gather, and report on information in the public interest (Independent Study Projects)

Five Stages of Service Learning Investigation Preparation Action Reflection Evaluation Five Stages of Service Learning: Investigation-Teacher and students investigate issues in the community. Students self-identify their personal strengths and how they can contribute to a service learning project. Through an investigation of books, Internet, observations, surveys, discussions…etc…the teacher and students identify a need they wish to address. Preparation and Planning-During this stage, students do more in-depth research about the identified need. Students look for partners in the school or community, invite guest speakers, and write the action plan. For example, if your identified need is to reduce pollution from cars at school, students can research pollution, do a school-wide survey to determine how many students ride in cars to school, observe how long cars idle in car line and record data, and research what that does to the environment, etc... They can invite guest speakers such as environmental experts. Their action plan could include having a walk-to-school day. Action-Students carry out their action plan. They notify community of project, (they may create flyers, post in newspaper, etc...), and observe and record data to determine if their action plan had an impact or results. The action plan can be adjusted as needed. The next two stages are what separates community service and service learning. Reflection-Reflection is ongoing and can occur during all phases of service learning. Students reflect upon their newly acquired skills, knowledge, and their experiences. Evaluation and modification of the project can take place throughout the project. At the end of the project an evaluation takes place by the teacher, students, and the group who received the service. Demonstration-Students share what they have learned. This can be done in a variety of ways. This also provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their learning in a creative way.

Defining Social Innovation An idea that works for the public good  Social innovations come from individuals, groups or organizations

Fostering Social Innovators Collaborative Spaces Community Connections Culture of Caring Kids

Collaborative Spaces

Small Group Service Learning Project Hosting a Book Talk

Connections

Community

Basketeers Bright Side 5th Grade Book Drive Video Basketeers Bright Side Serving for a Cause See Beautiful Blog Spot

References Kaye, C.B. (2010). The complete guide to service learning: Proven, practical ways to engage students in civic responsibility, academic curriculum, & social action. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing. Lake, V. & Jones, I. (2012). Service learning in the PreK-3 classroom: The what, why, and how to guide for every teacher. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing. http://gsn.nylc.org/ www.generation.org www.concernusa.org/gcc Contact: Monica.Alicea@cobbk12.org