Service Learning - Essay Example

XXXXXXXX Number: XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX of XXXXXXXX Service Learning Thank you [previous speaker]. Good Afternoon fellow students my name is XXXXX and I will be dealing with how service learning can be implemented. Let me begin by quoting a very famous saying by a great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer to neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again” (Howard University). As we have already learnt, service learning is a form of experimental learning. Here students use all their skills and experience to apply to real life situations including community needs. As explained by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, “Service-learning is a teaching and learning methodology which fosters civic responsibility and applies classroom learning through meaningful service to the community. The strongest service-learning experiences occur when the service is meaningfully immersed in ongoing learning and is a natural part of the curriculum that extends into the community” (Public Instruction). Having clearly understood the meaning, it is important to know how this can be implemented. So what do we do for service learning? Service learning is not a skill that can be learnt in one day, it is something which needs to be incorporated over the years. To implement service learning into a program a few basic steps can be incorporated into normal working, I will list these first and then explain each of the points: a) Preparing the Youth b) Connecting with prospective partners c) Healthy Lifestyle d) Scheduling and availability (Youth Development) Okay, the first essential element that is found in the incorporation of service learning is to explain the positive aspects of teaching and helping others. Assisting fellow workers and students and explaining the benefits of service learning is the first step of incorporating service learning. Here it is essential to explain to others the strong characteristic traits and also to highlight the positives of helping others (Watts). Here it is essential to also provide knowledge for healthy decisions. By taking the above steps, it helps in laying the foundation for service learning. Following this, the next step that needs to be incorporated is to successfully connect with the prospective partners and to find the right charities and service based organizations. Here it is essential to get in touch with the local authorities and the organisations and to get into some form of contracts of working together on various charitable goals (Kaye). Here it is important to set u goals for the youth to be able to achieve. By doing this, we can ensure we have projects in hand where work can commence. Also, it allows a chance to find ways for the youth to join in and participate in the service learning. This also allows setting up the goals for the youth which in turn helps in better and more organised participation in service learning. The next essential point to be noted here connecting with the students and to develop healthy lifestyles. A healthy lifestyle is one which includes helping others as well as being positive in their own approach. Here it is essential for the incorporators to inculcate the feeling of positive helping others as well as importance of encouraging others. By doing so, it is possible for better and more focused approach towards incorporating the service learning into the overall systems (Cress, Collier and Reitenauer). Finally, the forth main step that needs to be focused encouraging the students and fellow participants to participate in the communities and the charity events. Here to do so, it is possible to schedule the events and plans based on the schedules of the people, i.e. students and the fellow participants. Doing so does not allow the students to miss the opportunity to assist and also encourages them to spend a few hours to assist with the service learning programs. It is also essential to be open and willing to work with other organisations and charities as this only allows a more openness and variety for the participants as well (Kaye). The above steps help in better implementation of the service learning. It is also important to also understand the key point that can help in successful implementation of the service learning. Considering the students, it is essential to note that the key to the successful implementation of service learning is highly dependent on how engaging the program is (Watts). Consider us, we would definitely prefer being a part of programs that are engaging and require our attention. The next important aspects that need to be considered are the need for practicality, and relevance. These aspects are essential for the success of service learning. Having engaging programs with the best charities and best organisations but those which are not practical does not make sense. Also, it is essential to also consider the feasibility of the programs. Asking a student or participant to work on these programs for 10 – 12 hours a day is not practical or feasible (Butin). Hence another essential aspect for the success of these programs is the flexibility of the programs. Also, at all stages of life, every person needs some kind of motivation to participate in the programs. Hence the next important keys to success are ensuring the programs are rewarding and fun. This will help the individuals participate in the programs more effectively and efficiently and will also promote the programs within the youth as well. The simplest and best way to understand this and to be able to relate to the needs and requirements of the service learning, it is best to consider things that would motivate us to do the tasks. It will be unfair to expect a person to be motivated to complete a task which does not give any form of interest to the person. For instance, asking a student who attends classes from early morning until evening and then goes for other extra – curricular activities and classes until late night would not be a practical and fair approach. However letting the person know about the various programs and letting them take their decision for participation can prove to be very helpful. Hence it is essential to note that practicality is an important part of any decision making and can prove to be the reason why participants are willing to assist in the service learning. As explained by Jami Ake, Lecturer, “I like service-learning because it insists that students grapple with both the continuities and the discrepancies between theory and practice as they move back and forth between the world of the classroom and the world of service” (Ake). Considering the community and the success factors that relate to them, it is essential to note that these are equally important and similar to the students and their success factors. The factors include: Being Practical: Again similar to the students and participants, the social communities and also clearly need a practical approach. It would not be possible to get into a contract with the local charities and the organizations if the approach is not practical and beneficial. This leads us to the next point i.e. beneficial Beneficial: Charities and local service based organizations tend to be focused on ensuring that the efforts are on causes which have some form of positive benefit. It is essential to explain to the charities and the organizations the benefits of working together and to ensure that all efforts are based on providing definite positive benefits to the organization. Also, the aim is to help with the unmet needs rather than simply on building on the already accomplished needs and goals. Unmet needs: Here it is essential to focus on the current needs of the organization and the needs that have not been met. Take for instance, if an organization requires urgently food, clothing and shelter for the needy, and the clothing and shelter needs have already been met, it would be useless to keep building on these and not approaching the need of the food. Here then the other efforts that have been placed in the clothing and shelter will not be of any use and do not provide any form of benefits to the organization. Hence it is essential to focus on the unmet needs of the organization as these will assist in the growth and development and will also permit a more successful program as a whole. Non-controversial: Last but not the least, it is essential to focus that the efforts and to ensure that no efforts raise any form of controversy. It is essential to remember that the main aim is assist as many people as possible and to assist in better overall efforts. In conclusion, it is essential to note that the service learning is an excellent method of interacting with others and spreading the knowledge. It is also essential to focus on the needs of both the participants as well as the organizations. Striking a balance between the needs and the resources is a key element here. Service leaning is an essential aspect for everyone and it is essential that students are trained from the beginning to ensure that the overall program is successful. Thank you, now my friend XXXXXX will continue with the presentation. Works Cited Ake, Jami. Washington University . 2010. 20 October 2010 . Butin, Dan W. Service-Learning in Theory and Practice: The Future of Community Engagement in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. Cress, Christine M., Peter J. Collier and Vicki L. Reitenauer. Learning through Serving: A Student Guidebook for Service-Learning Across the Disciplines. Stylus Publishing, 2005. Howard University. Center for the Advancement of Service Learning (CASL). 2010. 20 October 2010 . Kaye, Cathryn Berger. The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social Action. Free Spirit Publishing, 2010. Public Instruction. Service-Learning: Definition and Philosophy. 18 August 2010. 17 October 2010 . Watts, Margit Misangyi. Student Orientation Series (SOS): Service Learning. Prentice Hall, 2006. Youth Development. Service Learning Implementation. 2010. 12 October 2010 . Read More