SERVICE-LEARNING AT LSU Center for Community

Transcript:SERVICE-LEARNING AT LSU Center for Community:
SERVICE-LEARNING AT LSU Center for Community Engagement, Learning, and Leadership Welcome! Please share who you are and why you are interested in service-learning. Definition of Service-Learning Service-learning is a credit-bearing, educational experience in which students participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs and reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility. (Adapted from Robert Bringle and Julie Hatcher (1996). “Implementing Service-Learning in Higher Education,” Journal of Higher Education, 67:2) Definition of Service-Learning To qualify as a service-learning class, a course should include these components: addresses an identified community (campus, local, regional, global) need service-learning supports the attainment of one or more course objectives demonstrates a clear connection between the service activity and the course content involves reciprocity between course and community that has the potential to result in students' increased civic awareness and engagement involves structured student reflection on the service experience and its relation to course goals involves collaboration with an appropriate community partner Service-Learning Models Placements – In this type of service, students are assigned to a community partner and make on-going and regular visits to the service site to perform the service. Through this long-term engagement, students are able to establish relationships with the clients of the agency and more fully understand the agency’s mission. Projects – In this type of service, students, usually working together as a class or in groups, produce a “deliverable,” such as a product or project, which is presented to the community partner. Some visits to the agency site may be necessary to prepare the project. These visits are an integral part of the service-learning. Even if site visits are not required, it is important for students to learn as much about the mission of the agency or group and the challenges faced by the population served. Combination Placement & Project – In some cases, service-learning work can combine the regular visits of a placement and the “deliverable” of a project. Examples of Service-Learning Horticulture and Women & Gender Studies students plan, promote, install, and maintain school and community gardens. Through ScienceDemo, the nation’s largest service-learning science outreach program, students introduce the wonders of science in K-12 classrooms. Public relations students develop and implement awareness campaigns for non-profits. Students in many disciplines serve as tutors and