Connecting Theory to Practice through Civic Engagement & Service Learning Part-time Faculty Symposium August 13, 2011

Introducing … Mary Elizabeth Tyler, Service Learning Coordinator Mary Elizabeth Tyler, Service Learning Coordinator Kevin Schwemmin, Service Learning Coordinator Kevin Schwemmin, Service Learning Coordinator Sean Brumfield, Executive Director, ACCESL Sean Brumfield, Executive Director, ACCESL

Overview Overview of Atlanta Center Overview of Atlanta Center Service Learning Defined Service Learning Defined Benefits of Service Learning Benefits of Service Learning Best Practices Best Practices Civic Responsibility Civic Responsibility Faculty Examples Faculty Examples Q&A Q&A

Services Provided Assisting faculty in creating SL opportunities Assisting faculty in creating SL opportunities Providing faculty training Providing faculty training Facilitating reflection sessions when requested Facilitating reflection sessions when requested Conducting community partner workshops Conducting community partner workshops Developing relationships with community agencies Developing relationships with community agencies Visiting student placement sites to ensure quality Maintaining a service library & resource center Assessing service learning activities Directing students to available service opportunities Matching faculty members with community partners

Impact I can honestly say that Ive learning more in this class than Ive learned in many others. I have learned so much, maybe because I found something that Im really passionate about, and it makes you care more to learn about itand to get involved and do more. Youre not just studying to take a test and forget about it. Youre learning, and the experiences we have are staying with us. Its not cram for a test the night before. I know when I take the test that I just want to get it over with. That doesnt happen with service learning. Nursing Student

Impact We learn these theories in school and ideas, but until we really apply them or see them in action, theyre not real. And we come out of school, if we havent done something like this, not understanding. Sociology Student Sociology Student

Service Learning Defined

American Association of Community Colleges Service learning combines community-based service with classroom instruction, focusing on critical, reflective thinking as well as personal and civic responsibility. Service learning programs involve students in activities that address community- identified needs while developing their academic skills and commitment to their community.

Service Learning Is … A teaching method that can be used in any curricular area as long as it is appropriate to student learning outcomes A teaching method that can be used in any curricular area as long as it is appropriate to student learning outcomes About students helping to determine and meet real, defined community-identified needs About students helping to determine and meet real, defined community-identified needs Reciprocal in nature, benefiting the community and the student Reciprocal in nature, benefiting the community and the student An effective way to encourage and foster active citizenship An effective way to encourage and foster active citizenship

Service Learning is not … A volunteer or community service program with no ties to academics A volunteer or community service program with no ties to academics An add-on to the existing curriculum (SL is not extra credit) An add-on to the existing curriculum (SL is not extra credit) Logging a certain number of hours to graduate Logging a certain number of hours to graduate Free or convenient labor Free or convenient labor Compensatory service assigned as a form of punishment by the courts or college administrators Compensatory service assigned as a form of punishment by the courts or college administrators

If students simply remove trash from a stream bed, they are providing service to the community as volunteers.

But, when students… Remove trash from a streambed,Remove trash from a streambed, Analyze what they found,Analyze what they found, Share the results and offer suggestions for the community to reduce pollution,Share the results and offer suggestions for the community to reduce pollution, And then tie the experience back to the classroom through reflection…And then tie the experience back to the classroom through reflection… Thats Service Learning

Benefits of Service Learning

Benefits to Students Service Learning … Engages students in meaningful experiences that lead to greater understanding of course materialsEngages students in meaningful experiences that lead to greater understanding of course materials Fosters civic engagementFosters civic engagement Encourages critical thinkingEncourages critical thinking Provides career exploration opportunitiesProvides career exploration opportunities Enhances a students appreciation for diversityEnhances a students appreciation for diversity

Benefits to the College Service Learning … Strengthens ties between the college and the community Strengthens ties between the college and the community Helps fulfill college mission & vision Helps fulfill college mission & vision Creates a positive public image Creates a positive public image Increases retention of students Increases retention of students

Benefits to Faculty Service Learning … Enhances & reinvigorates teachingEnhances & reinvigorates teaching Complements traditional classroom instruction by providing students with experiential learning opportunitiesComplements traditional classroom instruction by providing students with experiential learning opportunities Allows faculty to develop a stronger rapport with studentsAllows faculty to develop a stronger rapport with students Develops an awareness of societal issues relating to academic areas of interestDevelops an awareness of societal issues relating to academic areas of interest Increases professional recognition and reward opportunitiesIncreases professional recognition and reward opportunities

Benefits to the Community Service Learning … Strengthens campus- community relationshipsStrengthens campus- community relationships Provides substantial human resources to meet existing community needsProvides substantial human resources to meet existing community needs Helps community organizations become educational partnersHelps community organizations become educational partners Increases awareness of community needsIncreases awareness of community needs

Examples of Service Learning

Beth Wallace (ESL) Project SHINE I found out that the word communication is not simply talking to the students at the Clarkston Community Center, but explaining and showing examples of any kind so they can be able to understand that communication is happening. This gave me a better understanding of communication. Rolando Sanchez

Students usually only study the plain academic material and forget that it is very important to apply what they learn to real life. It is a benefit for students to have a required service-learning project since they can practice what they learn and remember it.... In addition, students get to know more about the society not just the school environment.Students usually only study the plain academic material and forget that it is very important to apply what they learn to real life. It is a benefit for students to have a required service-learning project since they can practice what they learn and remember it.... In addition, students get to know more about the society not just the school environment. Thien Tu Nguyen

Pamela Gore (Geology) Teaching in the Schools Project Teaching in the Schools Project Goal: To get college students to work with K-12 students to spark an interest in teaching science. Goal: To get college students to work with K-12 students to spark an interest in teaching science. Students develop and present a Georgia Performance Standards- based lesson to elementary students. Students develop and present a Georgia Performance Standards- based lesson to elementary students.

Documenting Rock Carvings Stone Mountain Park Stone Mountain Park Part of a partnership with Stone Mountain Memorial Association Part of a partnership with Stone Mountain Memorial Association

Trash Pick Up at Stone Mountain Park

Best Practices

Service Learning Best Practices 1.Understand the needs of your community 2.Encourage student voice in activity / project development 3.Identify which needs your students can address 4.Match needs to course objectives / SLOs 5.Identify an assignment for service learning to replace 6.Determine how service learning will be offered (group/individual; mandatory/alternative assignment) 7.Design the service learning opportunity, including number of hours to be served, pre-service assignments, and reflection and civic responsibility activities 8.Add service learning to the syllabus 9.Recognize your students and celebrate with students and community

Reflection Reflection is the process through which students make meaning of the service experienceReflection is the process through which students make meaning of the service experience Reflection connects course work to the service experienceReflection connects course work to the service experience Reflection is the graded component of service learningReflection is the graded component of service learning Civic responsibilityCivic responsibility

For More Information Atlanta Center for Civic Engagement & Service Learning Atlanta Center for Civic Engagement & Service Learning National Service Learning Clearinghouse National Service Learning Clearinghouse