Service Learning...
good teaching, excellent engagement
& deep learning
Service learning provides a meaningful way to engage students through hands-on, real-world experiences, and this can lead to perceptive and thoughtful mindsets about others and the world, active global citizenship and civic readiness.
Awareness of power, privilege and systems that surround us: yes.
Increased digital literacy: yes.
Community connections and meaningful relationships: yes.
Increased ability to empathize with others: yes.
Reciprocal relationships to benefit all participants: yes.
Greater self-awareness and cultivation of personal skills, talents and interests: yes.
These can all be outcomes of mindfully embedding the service learning cycle into your curriculum.
Transformative service learning can take a variety of forms. Sometimes you may lead your students through a full five-stage service learning cycle. Sometimes you may focus on a shorter learning experience involving the MISO (Media/Interviews/Surveys/Observations) method of action research or the personal inventory. Sometimes you may use the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals or a work of literature as an entry point for assessing community assets and needs.
I have been a service learning educator and coach for 20 years and know that service learning can engage our students in profound ways that enhance learning in our classrooms. We can achieve our curricular targets in a deeper way while fostering significant reflection and meaning-making with our students.
It starts with listening to each other and understanding the perspectives of people, groups and communities. Service learning can help us listen to and share stories in authentic ways so more people and voices are heard and understood. Slowing down our service learning experiences to allow time and space for these conversations is key to shaping a more equitable, inclusive and kind world.
What does a service learning cycle/experience look like?
Awareness of power, privilege and systems that surround us: yes.
Increased digital literacy: yes.
Community connections and meaningful relationships: yes.
Increased ability to empathize with others: yes.
Reciprocal relationships to benefit all participants: yes.
Greater self-awareness and cultivation of personal skills, talents and interests: yes.
These can all be outcomes of mindfully embedding the service learning cycle into your curriculum.
Transformative service learning can take a variety of forms. Sometimes you may lead your students through a full five-stage service learning cycle. Sometimes you may focus on a shorter learning experience involving the MISO (Media/Interviews/Surveys/Observations) method of action research or the personal inventory. Sometimes you may use the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals or a work of literature as an entry point for assessing community assets and needs.
I have been a service learning educator and coach for 20 years and know that service learning can engage our students in profound ways that enhance learning in our classrooms. We can achieve our curricular targets in a deeper way while fostering significant reflection and meaning-making with our students.
It starts with listening to each other and understanding the perspectives of people, groups and communities. Service learning can help us listen to and share stories in authentic ways so more people and voices are heard and understood. Slowing down our service learning experiences to allow time and space for these conversations is key to shaping a more equitable, inclusive and kind world.
What does a service learning cycle/experience look like?
(from Cathryn Berger Kaye's The Complete Guide to Service Learning)
There are five stages in a service learning cycle. Teachers can embed a full experience into a unit of study, or use parts of the cycle across several units of study. The cycle is flexible and dynamic, allowing you and your students to develop active research skills, communication skills and planning skills throughout. You can redesign existing units of study to include service learning, or you can design new units with a service learning foundation.
There are four types of action in service learning: direct, indirect, advocacy and research. Digital storytelling can play a role in all four types of action, and can be particularly powerful with indirect action, advocacy and research.
Examples to explore:
* a GRADE TWO example of service learning that includes digital storytelling
* a GRADE THREE example of service learning & edible education programming
* a GRADE FIVE classroom digital storytelling platform that showcases service learning, advocacy and digital storytelling
* a GRADE SEVEN example of a Makerspace convergence of service learning, Design Thinking and sustainability education
* a high school example of an award-winning PODCAST that exemplifies how podcasting and global citizenship go hand-in-hand
* a HIGH SCHOOL example of co-curricular service learning & community engagement
* a HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH example of using digital storytelling to increase engagement with the SDGs and to foster advocacy
* a HIGH SCHOOL example of redesigning an Advanced Placement (AP) unit with a service learning foundation
There are five stages in a service learning cycle. Teachers can embed a full experience into a unit of study, or use parts of the cycle across several units of study. The cycle is flexible and dynamic, allowing you and your students to develop active research skills, communication skills and planning skills throughout. You can redesign existing units of study to include service learning, or you can design new units with a service learning foundation.
There are four types of action in service learning: direct, indirect, advocacy and research. Digital storytelling can play a role in all four types of action, and can be particularly powerful with indirect action, advocacy and research.
Examples to explore:
* a GRADE TWO example of service learning that includes digital storytelling
* a GRADE THREE example of service learning & edible education programming
* a GRADE FIVE classroom digital storytelling platform that showcases service learning, advocacy and digital storytelling
* a GRADE SEVEN example of a Makerspace convergence of service learning, Design Thinking and sustainability education
* a high school example of an award-winning PODCAST that exemplifies how podcasting and global citizenship go hand-in-hand
* a HIGH SCHOOL example of co-curricular service learning & community engagement
* a HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH example of using digital storytelling to increase engagement with the SDGs and to foster advocacy
* a HIGH SCHOOL example of redesigning an Advanced Placement (AP) unit with a service learning foundation