Generations
Working Together
May, 2000
Fourth in the Series
The Illinois Association of School Boards and the Illinois Intergenerational
Initiative have joined forces to present intergenerational materials.
The first segment of the series discussed the benefits of intergenerational
connections for students and schools by emphasizing the involvement
of students in the planning and management of the program. The
second looked at recruiting and enriching the curriculum through
intergenerational efforts and also highlighted partnerships as
a cost-effective way of organizing and managing intergenerational
programs. The third segment described communication between generations
and how the celebration of a program develops stronger ties between
the school and the community. This segment describes service learning,
the benefits of service learning and how service learning links
all levels of education.
Service Learning: A P-16 Partnership
What is Service Learning?
Service learning is an instructional strategy that blends community
service with academic learning. Emphasis is placed on reflection,
active student participation, and connecting the curriculum to
real world. For example, chemistry students measure lead levels;
mathematics students mentor younger students; accounting students
help senior citizens with taxes; creative-writing students conduct
community oral histories; English students participate in literacy
programs; criminal justice students research data for community
policing; and management students order the supplies for building
a house.
Service learning is not the cure for everything, but it is a
promising trend for improving academic performance. Anne Bryant,
Executive Director of the National School Boards Association,
says that "service learning engages students in education and
helps connect their personal lives and community responsibilities
with their own academic achievement." The national Education Association
passed a resolution "that learning through voluntary community
service should be encouraged as an integral part of a student's
education." Service learning is an emerging teaching strategy,
one that is chosen by teachers because it makes sense to them
and fits with their curriculum. Service learning is not a mandate.
Benefits of Service Learning
For Students
Research across educational levels shows that students involved
in service learning have higher grades, are more engaged in learning,
and have higher educational aspirations. Students say that through
service learning they mastered skills that they would not have
mastered in a typical class and that they increased their sense
of social responsibility.
For Schools and Campuses
Service learning enriches the curriculum, fosters active learning,
and involves students in real-world experiences. Research at all
levels of education shows improvement in academic performance,
attendance, and conduct, and a more positive view toward service
and the community.
For the Community
Service learning fosters more positive relationships and resource
sharing between the school and the community. Community organizations
praise students for the "value added" as a result of their service.
The involvement of students in the community creates a more connected
citizenry and greater community vitality. Experts say that young
people who are given responsibilities behave responsibly.
Students Become Technology Teachers through Service Learning
Educators say that the best way to learn something is to teach
it. Students attest to their improvement in math, reading, and
science as a result of teaching or tutoring older adults, peers,
or younger students. Teaching or tutoring others gives students
an opportunity to experience responsibility for the learning of
others and offers them a sense of ownership for their own learning.
For example, older people are flocking to schools where youngsters
are teaching them about computers, the Internet, and e-mail. It's
part of the service-learning movement that has caught America's
imagination. Older people sing the praises of their young teachers.
One senior said, "They have such patience. In the beginning I
had difficulty with the mouse because of my arthritis, but they
helped me try over and over. Now I can do it." The youngsters
talk about their changing perceptions of teaching and their teachers.
Teachers say that the students become more engaged with their
own learning as a result of their service-learning experiences.
The confidence attained by students is the hallmark of service-learning
programs across the country involving elementary, middle school,
high school, and college campuses.
Service Learning Links All Levels of Education
Service learning has taken on a broader mission in Illinois,
one that is linking education at all levels. For example, a theater
class at Black Hawk Community College is working with Moline and
United Township High Schools to help students understand conflict
in the 18th century. They compare a woman who was boxed in by
social paradigms of her time to conflict in their lives.
An education class at DePaul is working with an after-school
program. Together the graduate students and youngsters plan, build,
and present projects on volcanoes, animals, mountain climbing,
and myriad topics that kids find interesting.
At Unity Point School District in Carbondale, students learn
about "digs" from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale archeology
students and participate in the sifting and identifying of artifacts.
A one-room Schoolhouse in southern Illinois joins 1st grade students
from Ewing School and Rend Lake Community College students. The
community college students prepare lesson plans as the teachers
did in the one-room schoolhouse years ago, including old games,
penmanship, writing poetry, oral reading from old basal readers,
sewing, and more. Later in the semester, the 7th- and 8th-grade
students from Ewing School teach the community college students
Power Point.
Working Together
Keith Sanders, Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher
Education, applauds the cooperation between K-12 and higher education.
"We can't fully succeed in education without everyone working
together. Service learning programs are a perfect way of linking
K-12 and higher education." The Illinois Board of Higher Education
has joined the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois
Community College Board in signing a P-16 Partnership and they
are actively working together through the Joint Education Committee.
Joint Education Committee
The Joint Education Committee serves as the primary forum for
collaboration between the three education boards (K-12, community
colleges, and higher education) and the Workforce Investment Board.
The partnership emphasizes dialogue and developing a cooperative
public policy which will result in a seamless system of education.
The P-16 Partnership targets three goals: (1) preparing students
for college; (2) preparing effective teachers; and (3) promoting
the knowledge and use of technology.
Service Learning Task Force
The Service-Learning Task Force, in cooperation with the Joint
Education Committee, is promoting service learning as a cooperative
educational initiative. Faculty and service-learning experts from
all educational levels have joined representatives of ISBE's Learn
and Serve, Campus Compact, the Corporation for National Service,
and the Intergenerational Initiative to foster collaborating via
dialogue, resource sharing, and joint projects.
The Future for Service Learning in Illinois
In a growing number of states, service learning is viewed as
an important part of the master plan for education. States are
linking service learning to standards, academic performance, workforce
preparation, and citizenship. Experts say that the student who
has opportunities for meaningful service becomes a better prepared
citizen who contributes to the common good of the state.
Service-Learning Survey
In the fall of 1999, superintendents and presidents of community
colleges, and universities were surveyed about service learning.
The survey found great enthusiasm throughout the state; In fact,
79 percent of those who responded to the survey support service
learning.
Of the 376 who completed the surveys, 123 reported service-learning
programs on their campuses or schools: 74 school districts, 29
universities, and 20 community colleges. This is likely the tip
of the service-learning iceberg.
Recommendations for next steps include implementing a publicity
campaign, promoting professional development, providing "getting
started" materials and examples of model programs, particularly
through the Internet, and linking service-learning experts with
those interested in beginning a class or program. (For a copy
of the report, Service Learning in Illinois, see www.siu.edu/offices/iii/
The Outcomes of Service Learning
Service learning
- Introduces students to real-world skills through their curriculum.
- Entices them into embracing their education, taking more responsibility
for their learning, and experiencing responsibility for the learning
of others.
- Gives them active citizenship experiences through community
involvement, and
- Raises students' awareness of their potential.
Service learning prepares college-ready youth and career-ready
college students.
|
