MARCELA URIBE, PH.D. SERVICE-LEARNING: PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY

WHAT IS SERVICE-LEARNING? For the most part, service-learning is an educational experience in which students participate in a credit bearing course whose learning outcomes are linked to an organized community service (Bringle & Hatcher, 2009). Students perform guided reflections to:  Enhance comprehension of the course content  Integrate academic and service concepts  Develop civic responsibility

KEY COMPONENTS OF SERVICE- LEARNING Course content that provides a theoretical framework Service to the community relate to the course content Reflection activities Conscious incorporation of civic responsibility: How what I do help my community? What is not service-learning: Volunteering Skills base development (internships)

HOW IS S-L DIFFERENT TO… Academic Service-Learning Tools, Source:

BENEFITS OF SERVICE-LEARNING Creates a more dynamic classroom Increases student interest in the subject Enhances performance on traditional measures of learning Makes teaching more enjoyable Personal Social Cognitive

WHY SERVICE-LEARNING AT THE SOPHOMORE YEAR Traditional-age sophomore students Major life transitions (Schaller, 2007) Sophomore slump (Lemons & Richmond, 1987)

BENEFITS OF SERVICE-LEARNING IN THE SOPHOMORE YEAR Random exploration vs. focus exploration(Schaller, 2007) Exploration of career paths Commitment Responsibility

FACULTY We identified129 professor teaching classes to sophomore students 25% or more sophomore students in their classes Majority of the classes in the College of Liberal Arts and Science

I NEED YOUR HELP Be aware that service-learning is new to campus Support faculty that are willing to make the transition to service-learning Perceive service-learning as an opportunity for scholarship and faculty development

“It was a fun and learning experience for us and for the children as well. They learned about bullying and we learned how to bring things together for the children. I feel I contributed to my community.” Delia was a student in the service-learning class: “Literacy and Language Acquisition.”