What is Service-Learning at YSU? This Slide Presentation Draws from “Learn and Serve America’s National Service-Learning Clearinghouse”

National Commission on Service-Learning definition... “…a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.”

Common characteristics of authentic service-learning supports social, emotional and cognitive learning and development positive, meaningful and real to the participants cooperative rather than competitive experiences; promotes teamwork and citizenship

Many roads to service-learning  Combination of service objectives with intentional learning objectives  Changes in both the recipient and the provider of the service Different  Interpretations  Objectives  Contexts All seek

Service Learning is More than... Volunteerism Youth Service Community Service Peer Helping Experiential Education Community-Based Learning

At YSU Service-Learning has three components...  Providing personal time and service to a nonprofit organization  Providing feedback to the organization (oral debriefing, written report, data collection) that will be helpful to the organization – called closing the loop  Self-reflection on that service

YSU’s Service Learning Citizen Scholar Certificate To earn the Service Learning Citizen Scholar certification, the student needs at least 4 approved service learning credit contracts for a total of 12 semester hours. Approval of work at YSU, which qualifies for service learning credit rests with Laura McCaskey.

Laura McCaskey Director, Center for Nonprofit Leadership in the Williamson College of Business Administration Phone:

Service Learning Credit Contract Students submit a Service Learning Credit Contract (a petition form) to Laura after the project is completed. It must be part of a course (can be a required or an elective project). The form describes the project, and the faculty member of the course signs the petition verifying the nature of the project and its completion.

A BCOE Service-Learning example When our teacher candidates volunteer for the non-profit organization Junior Achievement (JA) to teach JA modular lessons in a classroom, and then reflect on the experience, the candidates benefit both themselves and JA, thus the loop is closed.

Why Might We Want to Encourage Service Learning in the BCOE? Characteristics of Excellent Service Learning Experiences are Characteristics We Desire in Excellent Teachers

Benefits of service-learning National studies suggest that students in effective service-learning programs: improve academic grades increase attendance in school develop personal and social responsibility

More benefits of service-learning

In addition, service-learning entries are excellent RESUME additions... and... Students who receive Service Learning Citizen Scholar certification are awarded a commemorative stole (aka sash) they may wear to graduation and/or display in a shadowbox.

significantly.... Our teacher candidates who receive Service Learning Citizen Scholar certification are awarded a Commemorative stole (aka sash) they may wear to graduation and/or display in a shadowbox.