While volunteer
work is unpaid service to an organization or project dedicated
to improving the quality of life of others, service learning
is the integration of community service into the academic
curriculum. As part of their course work, students are matched
up with positions in the nonprofit sector that allow them
to apply the concepts and theories learned in the classroom
to real-life situations. Participants take the time to reflect
upon the meaning of their service. This is often done through
logs, journals and frank discussions with their classmates
and instructors. A final grade is give based on the learning
derived from the service experience as well as other course
requirements.
How
It Works for Students
Students sign up to take a class that currently includes a
service-learning component or make arrangements with an instructor
to engage in an independent internship or research project
that involves service learning. Each student engaged in service
learning must fill out a volunteer application and schedule
an interview with the Director of Volunteerism and Service-Learning. During
this meeting, a placement will be selected based on a student's
skills/interests, available opportunities and relevance to
course objectives. Students are encouraged to bring their
ideas to this meeting and offer suggestions of organizations
where they would like to be placed. But all volunteer sites
must be approved by the director of Volunteerism and Service-Learning prior
to the beginning of service. Hours from unapproved sites will
not be accepted.
Throughout their
service experience, students keep time logs that must be reviewed
and signed by their site supervisor before being turned in
to the Center for Volunteerism and Service-Learning at designated times during
the semester. Hours submitted after the deadline will not
be accepted. Students may also be required to keep learning
logs or journals that will serve as catalysts for class discussions.
If transportation
is a problem, the Volunteerism and Service-Learning Center van is available for use
to and from the placement site. Complete the driver agreement
form and request reservation at least two weeks prior to needing
the van.
Benefits
of Participation
Test career
choices
Apply abstract
concepts and theories to real world situations
Develop a deeper
understanding of complex social issues
Make connections
with prospective reference or employers
CSE
Courses that Integrate Service Learning
Contemporary
Trend in Education I and II
As part of this two semester course required for all Education
majors, students volunteer twenty hours each semester in an
educational environment. Students have worked in local schools,
YMCA's, day care centers and after-school enrichment programs.
Students are responsible for keeping a journal and having
their site supervisor sign a time log confirming the numbers
of hours they volunteer. The service component is considered
in determining the final grade.
Curriculum,
Assessments & Methods in Early Childhood Education
As part of this course, students offer ten hours of volunteer
service in a pre-school program in an Abbott school district
approved by the director of Volunteerism and Service-Learning. Participants
also keep a journal, shared with their professor, as a means
of reflecting on their experience.
English Composition/Basic
Writing
Service learning can also include one-time projects as is
demonstrated by assignments undertaken by some English Composition
and Basic Writing courses. During one semester, the Volunteerism and Service-Learning
Center arranged for students learning how to write for an
outside audience to spend some time visiting with the elderly
residents of St. Ann Villa. In addition to offering companionship
to the residents, each student wrote a biography about one
of the sisters she spent time visiting. Students also wrote
reflective essays about their experiences. More recently,
students developed their letter writing skills by exchanging
letters with detained asylum seekers, a project coordinated
by First Friends, an advocacy group that trains, coordinates
and supports visitors to the Elizabeth Detention Center.
Field Experience
in Emergency Medicine
This course, held in conjunction with the Biology and Chemistry
Departments, provides students with clinical research and
training at Morristown Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room.
This is achieved by a combination of, involvement in clinical
research studies, assisting the emergency room staff when
and where appropriate and attending a lecture series. Successful
completion of the course requires volunteering in the emergency
room four hours per week for twelve weeks, attending lectures
on medical research and demonstrating mastery of this material.
Questions and requests for approval for registration should
be directed to the Chair of the Chemistry Department.
Social Stratification
In this sociology course, students study the structure of
social systems and examine stratification by socio-economic
class, status, race and gender. The service learning component
of the course enables students to spend two hours a week volunteering
with local social service agencies, such as shelters, AIDS
organizations and groups for low income women. Students interact
with people who have disadvantageous positions in the stratification
system and the agencies that help them. They also explore
what can be done to improve people's social situations. Students
reflect on their service experiences through class discussions
and journals. Periodically, representatives from the various
agencies speak to the class about their organizations' mission,
client populations and the social issues they face.
How
It Works for Faculty
Faculty members considering incorporating service learning
into one or more of courses, should:
Set the learning
objectives for the class
Meet with the
director of the Volunteerism and Service-Learning Center to discuss service learning
options
Determine what
type of agencies are appropriate for the service learning
component of the course
Include service
learning in the syllabi
Present students
with opportunities for reflections and discussion
Give the final
grade
Course instructors
can count on the director of Volunteerism and Service-Learning to handle
the logistical and administrative tasks related to service
learning. The director of Volunteerism and Service-Learning will:
Make class
presentations about the service learning component of a
course
Develop a volunteer
placement list
Help students
arrange placement and keep records of this
Monitor students'
role in agency and address any problems
Provide time
logs to students and keep track of the number of hours of
service
Including
Service Learning in the Curriculum
Service learning can be included into a course in various
ways:
As a mandatory
part of a course with a required number of service hours
As a mandatory
part of a course with an individually selected number of
service hours
As an option
in lieu of another assignment
Faculty can also
use the service learning development form to assist them in
mapping out the service learning component in courses.
CSE
Courses that Integrate Service Learning
