home

YEARNING FOR TECHNOLOGY SERVICE LEARNING
 * Overview:**

If school students collect trash out of an urban streambed, they are providing a valued service to the community as volunteers. If school students collect trash from an urban streambed, analyze their findings to determine the possible sources of pollution, and share the results with residents of the neighborhood, they are engaging in service-learning. In the service-learning example, in addition to providing an important service to the community, students are learning about water quality and laboratory analysis, developing an understanding of pollution issues, and practicing communications skills. They may also reflect on their personal and career interests in science, the environment, public policy or other related areas. Both the students and the community have been involved in a transformative experience. Each of the examples above shows how service-learning is integrating meaningful community service with instruction and reflection in order to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen our communities.
 * What Service-Learning Looks Like**
 * Examples of Service-Learning**
 * **Elementary school students in Florida** studied the consequences of natural disasters. The class designed a kit for families to use to collect their important papers in case of evacuation, which students distributed to community members.
 * **Middle school students in Pennsylvania** learned about the health consequences of poor nutrition and lack of exercise, and then brought their learning to life by conducting health fairs, creating a healthy cookbook, and opening a fruit and vegetable stand for the school and community.
 * **Girl Scouts in West Virginia** investigated the biological complexity and diversity of wetlands. Learning of the need to eliminate invasive species, the scouts decided to monitor streams and then presented their findings to their Town Council.
 * **University students in Michigan** looked for ways to support struggling local non-profit organizations during difficult economic times. Graduate communication students honed their skills while providing a wide variety of public relations services with community partners, including developing press kits and managing event coordination.

Reference:

National Learning-Service Clearinghouse, Website. (2011). What is service-learning. http://servicelearning.org/what-is-service-learning


 * Benefits of service learning:**
 * provides real-life examples
 * gives students responsibility for learning
 * process connects students to their communities
 * connects the community to the school, providing relationship building