Service Learning Course Development

Service Learning Course Development

Learning Goals and Objectives

1. What course objectives (including general education outcomes for critical thinking, global awareness or citizenship) do you wish to deepen through service-learning? What do you want your students to learn or experience from service-learning?
2. How do students currently meet these goals in this course? What assignments, pedagogies, etc., help students to reach the goals of the course?
3. What are some problems or challenges you anticipate?

Service Project and Community Partner Selection

1. What types of service to the community will allow for students to reach your course objectives?
2. Are there social issues you would like this service project to address? What type of demographic do you want students to work with?
3. What types of agencies might be in need of such service? How will a relationship with this type of agency benefit both your students and the agency?
4. What type of work do you want them to engage in? Are there certain skills you want the students to develop or learn during their service-learning?
5. Are there specific organizations you have identified to work with? If so, which ones?
6. Define the term of the service experience:
1. a semester-long project How many hours?
2. a one-time event How many hours?
3. a short term project How many hours?
4. all students will participate in the same service project
5. need multiple projects for students to choose
7. How would you like students to find a project, site or organization to work with?
1. you will determine site before semester begins
2. choose from a list you provide
3. use website based volunteer links
4. students find their own project

Integration of Service and Learning

1. What sort of academic work (reading, writing, presentations, group work) will complement the service?
2. What type of reflection activities will you use to help students make connections between the service and the academic components of the class? (i.e. Journal, Reflective Essay, etc.)
3. How will you assess the service-learning component of the course? How do you currently assess the ways in which students meet these course objectives? (Grades should reflect student learning, and not simply completion of service).
4. Will others (community partner, recipients of service) help with assessment? How will you weigh this input when assigning grades for the project?

Other Questions to Consider

1. What do you think your strengths are in service-learning?
2. What type of liability issues are you concerned about?
3. Would you be interested in grants or scholarships?
4. Would you be interested in presenting at a conference or writing a journal article about your project?

Final Steps

1. Contact the Office of Experiential Learning for assistance with launching and sustaining your project.
2. Use the online link to designate your course as having an experiential learning component
3. Stay in communication with the Office of Experiential Learning for showcasing your service component and providing students with awards and recognition.