Academic Service Learning

1. Academic Service Learning Tiffany Sims Oakland University Michigan Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA

2. What is service learning • Teaching pedagogy • Combines: • Civic engagement • Volunteerism • Community based organizations • Creates • Community based Learning

3. Civic Engagement • Identify & address areas of public concern • Takes place on and off campus • Encourage students to get involved in the communities around them • Service learning encourages civic engagement

4. Volunteerism • Work completed by those who are not paid • Service learning should go beyond volunteerism • Volunteer service completed through service learning should link to the course goals • The assignment should not be “forced volunteerism”

5. Community Based Learning • Learning from the community • Happens off of the university’s campus • Allows students to experience the community

6. Key elements of Service Learning • Meaningful service • Clear connection between course and service • Structured reflection • Reciprocity • Community Partnerships

7. Meaningful Service

8. Meaningful Service “I had never realized the kind of poverty that was possible in the United States. We may have left campus but we never stopped learning!” Quote from a student who participated in Alternative Spring Break

9. Clear Connection • Students must understand the connection between the course and the service project • Link service learning to course goals or learning objectives

10. Structured Reflection • Journal entries • Class discussion • Presentations • Impacts of service • Outcomes of service

11. Reciprocity & Community Partners • Service learning should benefit the community partner, student and faculty equally • Developed through students or faculty • Oakland University AmeriCorps*VISTA is available to assist with partnerships

12. Benefits of Service Learning Research shows that service learning benefits: Community Organizations Students Faculty University

13. Enhances Academic Learning • Enhances ethics of students • Academic skills • Active process • Career education • Citizenship and diversity awareness • Unique learning environment • Immediate application

14. Incorporating service learning • Syllabus!!!! • Linked to learning objectives of the course • Percentage of grade should be appropriate • Focus on outcomes over hours • What is the overall goal of the assignment? • What should students learn trough this experience?

15. Project examples • COM 202:Group Dynamics • Com 399: 60 hours of service • Reading assessments for reading appraisal course • Foreign language: teach ESL courses at community center • Business class: marketing/business plan for nonprofit organization, job analysis for nonprofit organization • Finance/accounting: financial analysis, prepare taxes for elderly • Political science: volunteer in representatives office • Nursing: volunteer at hospital, hospice, retirement home • Computer: develop website or teach basic computer skills

16. Keep In Mind • Sustainability • Cultural Sensitivity • Experiences of students • Service Commitments • Follow-Up with student and organization

17. Incorporating Service Learning • Assignment construction • Change or drop another assignment • Grading and evaluation • Maintain the integrity of the course • Reflection • Risk and Liability

18. The Office of Academic Service Learning at Oakland University • Faculty Fellows Program • Michigan Campus Compact • AmeriCorps VISTA • Leadership and Volunteer Center-CSA • Alternative Spring Break • www.oakland.edu/asl • www.oakland.edu/volunteer

19. Sources • Academic Service Learning Faculty Development Manuel Kathy Stacey, Dale L Rice, Georgea Langer