Service Learning - Where does this fall in education

As a graduate assistant for the Center for Instructional Excellence at Purdue University, I am currently attending Dr. Bob Bringle's presentation on Service Learning. It's really piqued my interest. I see extreme implications for education students. For the future, at IU, Dr. Reigeluth actually does service learning with Decatur Township. It's very interesting that faculty volunteer their services to attempt to redesign education. For me as well, I'm incredibly interested in engaging in service learning projects with IUPUI and giving our preservice teachers an opportunity to experience diverse learning experiences. Also, having our preservice teachers work with inservice teachers to help them design technology-enhanced lessons. This is a great opportunity for preservice teachers to learn how to design lessons, work with a teacher, gain feedback, and prepare instructional materials teachers need and can use. Perhaps even seeing the implementation of their instruction would be a great way to gain knowledge and skills. Reflection would be outstanding in this regard!

One thing he emphasized was that service learning has to be:
1. In the community.
2. In a course. Partnered with a course that students read material, engage in discussions, meet weekly (or more).
3. Connection between the two. This is often accomplished through reflections. Make sure that you directly draw on this experience and focus on it.
4. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND TYPICALLY OVERLOOKED: Do you have educational objectives/goals for the course to develop civicly responsible and involved graduates?

Also, what's your definition of Service Learning? Is it co-curricular (including student activities) or just in courses? We really need to make an institutional decision. We can learn from Student Services on organizing, managing, etc... Alternative Spring Break tips are great opportunities - but this isn't necessarily service learning. There is no course or specific educational goals. OR a hybrid method of the idea, to tie this in with a course of some kind.

Different Types of Journals
Three-part = How's it relative to them as a person, community, professional growth?
Double sided = description on one side, reflections on other.
Highlighter = they have to highlight all the incidents they've learned about from the course.
Critical incident = focus on the critical incidents
Key words = tell them what "key words" they feel should be included

Service Learning is more work for the Faculty. More faculty-student and student-student interactions than typical courses. Set up community placements. It's additional work. You get evolution in the course.

Use the concepts to put on worksheets so they can relate these to their experiences. A consistent list of communities sources. They are let known that these students are not just there for volunteering - it's more.

Also, see his chart on management of placements. We need to see what the students' needs, activities, key persons, time table, etc....

For more information about this, see Campus Compact.

Service Learning - Where does this fall in education