Service-Learning
is a method of teaching and learning that integrates community
service activities into academic curricula and expands the
learning of students from the classroom to the community.
Check to see if your agency is listed in our agency database. If not, please fill out our online form to register your agency.
Meet with the service-learning staff at the Center for Civic Leadership. They will be able to provide you with information about which faculty members are teaching service-learning courses.
Review the service-learning course of interest with the faculty member and evaluate whether your needs are consistent with the learning objectives of the class.
Design a thorough description of skills required for the service-learners.
Design an outline for the assigned work. Remember that the assigned work is intended to be meaningful and should tie into the academic content. Include the requirements and expectations of the service-learner.
Discuss the details of the partnership with the faculty member that is teaching the service-learning course. This will provide you with the opportunity to ask questions and tailor the goals to be consistent.
Create forms such as time sheets, student evaluation forms, goal list and schedule if you feel that they will be beneficial to the process.
Action:
Work with faculty member to organize a time to present your agency’s needs to the entire class.
Review with the students the organization’s mission, goals, expectations, history, and philosophy. This will help them to understand their role within the organization. During this time, explain how your organization plans to address the issues of the community. Provide handouts, fact sheets, articles, etc.
After students have signed on with your organization, orientate them to the requirements and expectations of your organization for them.
Set up meeting times throughout the semester. This is a good way to monitor progress and answer questions that the service-learners might have.
Reflection:
Talk with the students about their experiences.
Example questions:
“Do you feel like you are making a difference? How?”
“How does this project relate to the course work required for your service-learning course?”
The faculty member will also conduct reflection throughout the course. Examples of reflection methods are as follows:
Journal Entries
Essay Writing
Readings
Class Discussion
Online Discussion
Small-Group Discussion
Classroom Presentation by Agency Staff Member(s)
Panel Discussion (agency staff and/or their clients/participants)
Training Session
On-Site Visit/Observation
Video Watching
Staged Debate
Presentations by Students from a Previous Semester
Research/Internet Browsing on the Related Social Issues
Possibly attend reflection session with the faculty member and class.
Assessment:
Did this collaboration between your agency and the student team meet the goals for the project?
Did the participants gain from the experience?
Did your attitudes, beliefs, or values shift in any way?
Consider what you would change and discuss it with the service-learning faculty member.
Turn in any student evaluation forms.
Key Points to Remember
Take time to recruit the team. This part is included in the preparing part of the checklist. It is important to make arrangements with the faculty member in advance. Also, make time to present your project to the entire class.
Size the job to match the skill level. Service-learning is more than typing skills and filing papers. This is meant to be a meaningful experience where the learning boundaries are extended beyond the classroom.
Don’t let the team run on autopilot. Don’t leave success to chance. This is a relationship that has to be facilitated and encouraged. It’s easy to put off goals and then chance the quality of the project because a team may be trying to “just get it done”.
Move Fast. Set goals through the entire semester and evaluate and celebrate those goals accomplished.
Encourage Creativity. Use the synergy of a team to accomplish great creative capital.
Turn in documentation for student work at the end of the project.
Communicate regularly with the faculty member throughout the course.
(adapted from Boise State University service-learning website)
