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Creating A Service-Learning Course
A Workshop for JMU Faculty
May 6-8, 2008
- Would you like to know more about service-learning?
- Would you like your students to be more engaged in your classroom and the learning process?
- Would you like to connect your courses with the local community but don't know where to begin?
- Would you like to incorporate more reflective learning into your courses?
- Would you like to make a difference to yourself, your students and the community?
- Would you like to be a part of a faculty network that is rewarded for connecting their teaching and research with service to the community?
If your answer is 'yes' to any of these questions, we encourage you to apply for this workshop.
Workshop Introduction
JMU Community Service-Learning (CS-L) and the Center for Faculty Innovation (CFI) will co-sponsor a 3-day workshop May 6-8, 2008 for full-time teaching faculty interested in developing a new course or modifying a current course that integrates service-learning principles into the course's learning outcomes. The workshop will be interactive and will cover the following topics:
- Service-Learning pedagogy
- Best practices for of developing a service-learning course
- Risks and rewards of teaching a service-learning course
- How to build a partnership with a community agency
- How service-learning impacts student learning
- Community Service-Learning support services
- Using the JMU faculty service-learning network
Workshop Facilitator
The workshop will be facilitated by Garry Hesser, Ph. D., Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Natural and Social Sciences Division at Augsburg College. As a member of the Campus Compact Consulting Corps, he has led workshops on service-learning and experiential education on over fifty campuses. He is past president of the National Society for Experiential Education and the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs. (Click here for more biographical information)
What is Service-Learning?
Service-Learning is a method under which students learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service that:
- Is conducted in and meets the needs of the local community
- Is coordinated with an institution of higher education and the community
- Helps foster civic responsibility
- Is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum
- Includes structured time for the students to reflect on the service experience
All service-learning courses include the following three learning goals:
- Linking the course learning objectives with the service experience
- Enhancing students personal growth and development
- Developing a life long commitment to service and civic engagement
What Can Faculty Expect From Participating in the Workshop?
- Immersion in local community agencies to learn about possible service-learning partnerships
- Overview of service-learning pedagogy
- Best practices for developing a service-learning course
- Practical advice from experienced service-learning faculty, students and community directors
- Assistance with developing community agency partners and student placement
- Best practices for incorporating reflective learning into your course
- Connect with other JMU faculty who teach service-learning
- Ongoing support from CS-L at JMU
What Will be Expected of Faculty Participants?
- Attend the three day workshop
- Service-learning goals and assessment
- Partnership with a community agency
- Integrated reflection exercises linking the service experience to the course's learning goals
- Design a new course or improve a current service-learning course to include:
- File the syllabus with CS-L
- Participate in the evaluation and assessment of the service-learning course
- Attend two follow up sessions during the 2007-08 academic year
- Present your service-learning experience to your department and other faculty colleagues
- Serve as a mentor to other faculty interested in developing service-learning courses
Application Form and Submission Requirements
- Write a personal statement about why you are interested in incorporating service-learning into your teaching
Date/Time/Location
The Service-Learning workshop will be held May 6-8, 2008, from 8:30 - 4:30 in Wilson 207. Lunch will be provided each day.
Stipend for Faculty
Participating faculty will receive a stipend of $500.00. Five hundred dollars will be awarded for attending the workshop.
Selection Criteria
Workshop attendance will be limited to twenty faculty. Participants will be selected by representatives of JMU Community Service-Learning and the Center for Faculty Innovation, using the following criteria:
- Applicant's commitment and interest, as evidenced in the brief personal statement and the application form
- Overall quality of the proposal
Completed applications should be submitted by March 24 to Rich Harris, Director, Community Service-Learning, MSC 1011; harrisra@jmu.edu; 568-3463.
Faculty selected to participate will be notified by March 28 of their acceptance.
Applicants who are not accepted will be notified by April 4.
Questions?
Contact Rich Harris -- 568-3463 or harrisra@jmu.edu
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