Service Learning In The Rural
Community College
Nicholas Holton
Kirtland Community College
www2.kirtland.edu/servicelearning/
Definition of Service Learning
Community Service Learning may be
conceptualized as a pedagogical model that
connects meaningful community service
experiences with academic course learning.
Goals for the session
Time For Sharing Ideas
We Know The Problems, What Are The
Solutions.
Concentrate On Turning Challenges Into
Opportunities
What Students Want:
Clear Expectations
Structure
Involvement
Variety
Relevance
Acceptance and Respect
Flexibility
Humor
Credibility
Concern for their Goals
Benefits of Service Learning
Enriches student learning of course material
and “brings books to life and life to books.”
Engages students in active learning that
demonstrates the relevance of academic
work for their life and career choices.
Increases awareness of current societal
issues as they relate to academic areas.
Broadens perspectives of diversity issues
and enhances critical thinking skills.
Improves interpersonal skills.
Develops civic responsibility through
active community involvement.
Community:
Provides substantial human resources to meet
educational, human, safety, and environmental
needs of local communities.
Allows the energy and enthusiasm of students
to contribute to meeting needs.
Fosters an ethic of service and civic
participation in students.
Creates potential for additional partnerships
and collaboration.
The Best Service Learning
Programs
1. Are bound directly to the academic curriculum.
2. Meet a real community need.
3. Provide for structured group reflection time.
4. Engage students in group decision making and problem
solving.
5. Find ways to match the skills and talents of students with
the needs of the community.
6. Provide a wide variety of options for students.
7. Provide recognition for services rendered.
Service Learning:
Essential Elements
1. Reciprocity: The service learning must be worthwhile
and valuable for both the student and the community.
2. Reflection: Intentional, systematic reflection about
the experience must take place in order to accomplish
rational harmony in community service experiences.
Reflection within the context of the volunteer experience
encourages introspection of other aspects of the student’s
life.
3. Development: Service learning occurs in different
stages; beginning with service, from enabling to
empowering; from observation, to experience; from
following to leadership.
4. Meaningful Service: Service tasks need to be
worthwhile and challenging in order to strengthen
students’ critical thinking.
5. Diversity: A priority is placed on involving a broad
cross-section of students working in diverse settings and
with a diverse population within the community.
Meaningful service is not about doing good to
someone; it is about dignity and growth of the
giver and the receiver. Harry C. Silcox
Ways to Integrate A Service
Component
Independent 4th credit option
Required within a course
Option within a course
Class Service Projects
Disciplinary Capstone Projects
Service Research Projects
Important Steps in Developing A
Service Learning Strategy
1. Consider the courses you teach and
determine how community service might
be helpful to enrich learning in that
discipline.
2. With service sites or activities in mind,
consider your goals and motives in using
the application.
3. Based upon your motives, goals, and
objectives, choose a course service option.
4. Once you have chosen how service will be
incorporated, review and alter your course
objectives and syllabus to reflect the
change.
5. On the first day of class, explain and
promote the ideas behind including
Service Learning in your class. Explain
the benefits to the student and the
community.
6. Work with students to develop specific
service and learning objectives for their
service experiences.
7. Teach students how to harvest the service
experience for knowledge.
8. Link the service experience to your
academic course content through
deliberate and guided reflection.
9. Evaluate your Service Learning outcomes
as you would any other product.
Advice on Designing a
Service Learning Course
1. Are course goals and objectives realistic?
2. Has advance planning taken place with the
community agency to effectively integrate
service-based learning with course goals
and objectives?
3. What provisions have been made for
evaluation and assessment?
Principles of Good Practice in
Community Service Learning
and Pedagogy
Academic credit is for learning, not for service
Do not compromise academic rigor
Set Learning goals for students
Establish criteria for the selection of community
service placements
Provide educationally-sound mechanisms to
harvest the community learning
Provide supports for students to learn how to
harvest the community learning
Minimize the distinction between the students’
community learning role and the classroom
learning role
Re-think the faculty instructional role
Be prepared for uncertainty and variation in
student learning outcomes
Maximize the community responsibility
orientation of the course
Common Faculty Concerns:
1. Academic Rigor
2. Competence in Application of the
Strategy.
3. Students’ ability to contribute meaningful
service.
4. Time Constraints
5. Liability
New Initiatives In Rural Service
Learning
Michigan Alliance for Rural Service
Learning (MARSL)
http://www2.kirtland.edu/servicelearning/m
arsl.htm
Regional Initiatives
Multi-state Collaborations
Community College National Center for
Community Engagement
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (LZW) decompressor
are neede d to see this picture.
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/engagement/
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/engagement/Journal/in
dex.jsp
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/engagement/WhatsNe
w.jsp
For more information on student learning
point your browser to:
www.uwex.edu/erc/gwah/
www.teachersnetwork.org/dcs/environsl/envi6.htm
www.teachersnetwork.org.dcs/environsl/envi4.htm
www.teachersnetwork.org/dcs/environsl/envi5.htm
www.teachersnetwork.org/teachnet/Boston/tisseason/man
y111111.htm
www.cde.ca.gov/calserve/LessonPlans/default.asp
www.csf.colorado.edu/sl/syllabi/index.html
www.usafreedomcorps.gov/