Community Service-Learning in Canada

1. Community Service-Learning in Canada An Overview of Practice and Programs Cheryl Rose – Executive Director Canadian Association for Community Service-Learning

2. Looking for answers to: • What is community service-learning? • How has it developed in Canada? • Where and how is it being practised? • How is it being supported? • Why community service-learning?

3. What is Community Service-Learning? Service-learning is a form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as students work with others through a process of applying what they are learning to community problems and, at the same time, reflecting upon their experience as they seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves. Eyler & Giles, 1999

4. CSL in Practice Principles of Good Practice for Combining Service and Learning • An effective program engages people in responsible and challenging actions for the common good. • An effective program provides structured opportunities for people to reflect critically on their service. • An effective program articulates clear service and learning goals for everyone involved.

5. Principles - continued • An effective program allows for those with needs to define those needs. • An effective program clarifies the responsibilities of each person and organization involved. • An effective program matches service providers and service needs through a process that recognizes changing circumstances. • An effective program expects genuine, active, and sustained organizational commitment.

6. Principles - continued • An effective program includes training, supervision, monitoring, support, recognition, and evaluation to meet service and learning goals. • An effective program insures that the time commitment for service and learning is flexible, appropriate, and in the best interests of all involved. • An effective program is committed to program participation by and with diverse populations. Honnet, E.P., and S.J. Poulen. (1989)

7. CSL is NOT • An episodic volunteer program • An add-on to an existing school or college curriculum • Logging a set number of community service hours in order to graduate • Compensatory service assigned as a form of punishment by the courts or by school administrators • Only for high school or college students • One-sided: benefiting only students or only the community National Commission on Service-Learning

8. Important Milestones in Canada: • 1999 - St. Francis Xavier University, funded by the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation to expand their service-learning program: course-based and immersion • 2001- first meeting of Canadian institutions of higher learning who were practicing and/or interested in service-learning to gather for a three day symposium on service-learning; catalyst for a grassroots network of professional Canadian colleagues interested in this pedagogy

9. Canadian Overview: continued • 2002 - at the University of Guelph: Edward Zlotkowski as guest speaker; a national listserv was established • 2003 - at the University of British Columbia: Barbara Holland and Sherrill Gellman; formed a steering committee with specific goals to create a national association to promote and support CSL in Canada, especially through exploring funding opportunities • 2004 - at the University of Ottawa: Joel Westheimer; the Steering Committee presented, draft documents regarding a name, vision, and mission for our developing association.

10. Canadian Overview continued • July 2004 – steering committee contacted by McConnell • September 2004 – McConnell announces its National University-Based Community Service-Learning Program • November 2004 – McConnell funds the establishment of the Canadian Association for Community Service-Learning • January 2005 – McConnell announces successful recipients of funds through its national CSL program

11. Canadian Association for Community Service-Learning • Regional workshops for faculty and community organizations in Spring 2005 • National Working Symposium on CSL in Canada – Outcomes and Evaluation – in November 2005 • National Conference in 2006 in collaboration with STLHE • Ongoing exploration of funding for CSL programs and research • Comprehensive research into CSL in Canada – funded internship • Creation of shared platform for collecting Canadian data on outcomes of our university and college programs – to contribute to research and program development – launching 2006

12. Some Programs Across Canada University of British Columbia THE LEARNING EXCHANGE

13. UBC: The Learning Exchange • The Learning Exchange Trek Program provides opportunities for UBC students, staff and alumni to do community service in a variety of schools, non-profit organizations, and community centers in inner-city neighborhoods of Vancouver. The program gives participants real-life experience in the community while raising their awareness of health, social, economic and political issues. • The Trek Program offers UBC’s human resources to community organizations to enhance existing programs, as well as work towards developing new ones. • For information about the program email: trek.program@ubc.ca. • http://www.learningexchange.ubc.ca/trek_program.html

14. Some Programs Across Canada University of Guelph PROJECT SERVE CANADA

15. Guelph: Project Serve Canada • annual program in February, during Reading Week • enables students from the University of Guelph to connect with peers from other Canadian universities • significantly serve in collaboratively designed four day volunteer placements in one or more of our national communities • integrated learning opportunities/reflection activities • raises awareness in the students on critical social issues • encourages the development of a lifelong sense of responsible citizenship • http://www.studentlife.uoguelph.ca/citizenleader/explore/projectserve.cfm

16. Some Programs Across Canada TRENT CENTRE FOR COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION in collaboration with Trent University

17. Some Programs Across Canada St. Francis Xavier University COURSE BASED AND IMMERSION SERVICE-LEARNING

18. Trent Centre for Community Based Education • Community-Based Education Program accepts and helps develop proposals from community organizations in the region • matches Trent University students with the organizations to help meet those needs. • research, planning or community development projects, assist students to gain practical experience in their field of study while helping to solve current challenges in our community • http://www.trentu.ca/tccbe/index.htm

19. St. FX: Course Based CSL Course Based CSL - Examples • BIOL 252 Anatomy and Physiology II • BSAD 322 Managerial Accounting II • BSAD 457 Community Enterprise Development • BSAD 492 Research Project for Majors • HKIN 385 Adapted Physical Education • HKIN 395 Physical Activity and Sport for •                   Individuals with Disabilities • HKIN 426 Health Education • HNU 362   Clinical Nutrition II • HNU 455   Food Service: Management and •                   Quantity Production • HNU 493   Senior Thesis (Honours) • IDS 305      Immersion Service Learning

20. St. FX: Immersion CSL • involves faculty leading groups of students traveling during Reading Week to communities such as inner-city settings or rural areas in developing countries • faculty leaders and students participate in service projects determined by a local partner agency • campus preparation involves readings, meetings and discussion groups • cultural tours, presentations and discussions about community efforts to meet social, health, educational and economic needs • students broaden their understanding, interpret their immediate experiences and reflect upon the role of community organizations in providing for the needs of the community members • upon return, students are required to present on their experiences to the campus community • http://www.stfx.ca/academic/servicelearning/description/

21. More Programs Across Canada • University of Northern British Columbia • University of Victoria • Douglas College • University of Calgary • Lethbridge College • University of Saskatchewan • Nipissing University • University of Toronto

22. And More Programs Across Canada • Brescia College – U of Western Ontario • Brock University • Queens University • Wilfred Laurier University • York University • Université de Québec à Trois-Rivières • Memorial University

23. Why Community Service-Learning? Positive Outcomes of Note: Students • Improved academic performance, especially writing skills • Values development • Career choice direction • Commitment to service post-graduation

24. Why Community Service-Learning? Positive Outcomes of Note: Faculty • Valuable relationships with community partners • New, more active pedagogy • Generate new research opportunities • Personal satisfaction in making a difference

25. Why Community Service-Learning? Positive Outcomes of Note: Community Groups • Receiving service not otherwise available • Gained new insights into their own operations • Saw themselves as educators • Learned from students and valued their relationships

26. Why Community Service-Learning? Positive Outcomes of Note: Institution • Developed role in community • Capacity to attract funding • Enhanced image and visibility in community • Avenue for putting the institution’s Mission into action

27. Why? “ Service-Learning shifts attention away from an exclusive preoccupation with education as private gain and seeks to balance that concern with a focus on the common good.” Edward Zlotkowski

28. Community Service-Learning in Canada In Canada, there is growing support for a networked, intentional movement to implement community service-learning in post-secondary education. These innovative programs are designed to connect: • the resources of universities and colleges; • the energy and intellect of university students; • the front line experience of community agencies; in order to better understand and address critical social issues in local, national and global neighbourhoods….together. from the press release announcing the establishment of The Canadian Association for Community Service-Learning (2004)

29. References Eyler , J and Giles, Jr., D. Where’s the Learning in Service Learning? San Francisco:Jossey-Bass:1999. Furco, A., et al. Building Partnerships with College Campuses: Community Perspectives. Council of Independent Colleges: 2004 Honnet, E.P., and S.J. Poulen. Principles of Good Practice for Combining Service and Learning, a Wingspread Special Report. Racine, WI: The Johnson Foundation, Inc: 1989. Jacoby, B. and Associates. Service-Learning in Higher Education: Concepts and Practices. Jossey-Bass:1996. The Canadian Association for Community Service-Learning www.communityservicelearning.ca : 2005