Welcome! Service-Learning: What & Why Stephanie Stokamer Portland State University Graduate School of Education Educational Leadership & Policy Department 25 January 2010

Objectives Become familiar with “service-learning” and why it is used Become familiar with “service-learning” and why it is used Increase knowledge of how to teach with service-learning Increase knowledge of how to teach with service-learning Understand trends in service-learning in the United States and around the world Understand trends in service-learning in the United States and around the world Consider specific applications for your context Consider specific applications for your context

What is Service-Learning? Service in the community Service in the community Academic integration Academic integration Reflection Reflection

What is Service-Learning?

Environmental issues Environmental issues Waste management Waste management Ecology Ecology Physical properties of matter Physical properties of matter Hunger Hunger Poverty Poverty Nutrition Nutrition Social services Social services Service Learning

What is Service-Learning? Service in the community Service in the community Academic integration Academic integration Reflection Reflection Journal: What are the most important problems in your community? Journal: What are the most important problems in your community?

Why do service-learning? Service Service –Connection with the community –Working on a community problem –Reciprocity Learning Learning –Academic achievement –Experiential learning –Personal growth

Journal: What could students learn from problems in your community?

Teaching with service- learning Match the community work to the course content. Match the community work to the course content. Do not compromise academic rigor. Academic credit is for learning, not service. Do not compromise academic rigor. Academic credit is for learning, not service. Establish learning objectives, but recognize that what your students learn could be different from what you intended. Establish learning objectives, but recognize that what your students learn could be different from what you intended. Prepare students for learning from the community. Prepare students for learning from the community. Directly connect student service to course material. Directly connect student service to course material. Help students reflect with writing and discussion. Help students reflect with writing and discussion. Journal: How could you use service-learning? Journal: How could you use service-learning?

Trends & Possibilities Service-learning can be done in any discipline. Service-learning can be done in any discipline. Service-learning can be done with any age group. Service-learning can be done with any age group colleges in the United States offer service- learning courses or programs, reaching at least 30% of students (some estimate 80%) colleges in the United States offer service- learning courses or programs, reaching at least 30% of students (some estimate 80%). Most students who graduate from Portland State University participate in service-learning. Most students who graduate from Portland State University participate in service-learning. Many secondary schools require service to graduate Many secondary schools require service to graduate International service-learning is one of the fastest growing components of study abroad. International service-learning is one of the fastest growing components of study abroad.

Service-Learning Resources Portland State University Resources: Assessing Service Learning and Civic Engagement: Center for Academic Excellence website: Regional Resources: The 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Conference Additional Resources: Learn and Serve America: National Service-Learning Clearinghouse:

Questions? Thank you for your time today! Thank you for your time today!