Attention Faculty: Service Learning Announcement
Filed under Academics
Posted by , July 25, 2005
View all posts for July 2005
Dear Faculty,
Hello and Happy Summer! We are planning for the fall semester and, as always, I am eager to tell you about service learning here at Simmons. For the first time ever, we are excited to tell you that we will hold the Service Learning Fair in the Spring and the Fall (9/28; 11 am - 1 pm) beginning with this year. The Service Learning Fair is an excellent way for students to find the right placement or project.
Service Learning is a teaching method that uses community service to achieve specific learning objectives. As you may already know, service learning at Simmons typically engages students for 20 hours over the course of a semester. A service learning staff member with orient students in class with a 30 to 40 minute session detailing the logistics and successes of service learning. Students attend the Service Learning Fair and must complete reflection/assessment activities.
There is also a great deal of variety in service learning. Service Learning can be project-based (a class or small groups work on a pre-determined project) or placement-based (students choose from a number of community partners that best fit their needs and the learning objectives of the class). All projects are reciprocal and are based on the needs of the community partner. Service learning can be taught in any discipline and I would be pleased to work with you to see how service learning can complement your curriculum. Further resources can be found at http://www.compact.org/.
The Scott/Ross Center staff will work with your students to pick the placement that is right for them by considering: issue area, scheduling, career interests, skills, challenges, learning objectives and location.
If you are interested in teaching with service learning for the first time, please contact me right away at x2477 or mckee@simmons.edu, so that I may answer your questions and possibly begin planning. Previous service learning practitioners can call or email anytime before September 7th to check in and schedule your class presentation. Please remember to to include the date and time of the Service Learning Fair in your syllabi, September 28th, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. I am looking forward to working with some of you for the first time and others yet again.
We would be very pleased if you would consider teaching with service learning this semester.
Sincerely,
Jenni McKee
Director of Service Learning
Scott/Ross Center for Community Service
SIMMONS COLLEGE
617-521-2477
mckee@simmons.edu
