Reflections On Service Learning

The course objective for the class Service Learning in English is to increase one’s knowledge about language arts tutoring through readings, discussion, and experience working with teachers and a specific student struggling with academics as well as his/her work ethic. I was assigned to tutor Aaron Ring, a freshman at Christel House Academy South, a nationally acclaimed award winning school. The school has a healthy and safe welcoming environment that contains a diverse assortment of students and a 20:1 student-teacher ratio to allow teachers and students to build a close relationship. The different rooms of the school were neat and well maintained. The classrooms were very clean with different lightings, colorful decorations, couches for the

It is also a “boundary spanning” activity in that it requires active involvement from people both within and outside of the classroom context, often resulting in participant contributors who represent a variety of generations, ethnicities, social groups, and experience levels (Billig and Furco, 2002, p.vii). Service-learning is designed to reduce the boundaries between an institutional campus environment and the community around it. It is designed to connect learning to real experience through service and reflection (Ball and Schilling, 2006; Becker, 2000). As a baseline to facilitate this development, service-learning is distinct from other types of community service and civic engagement experiences in that the service-learning experience must not only have a service and reflective component but also be clearly tied to the curriculum through learning objectives and theoretical underpinnings (Bloomquist, 2015; Pritchard, 2001). As Barbara Holland, former Director of the U.S. National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, shared, “Service-learning is all in the hyphen. It is the enrichment of specific learning goals through structured community service opportunities that respond to community-identified needs and opportunities.” (Kenworthy-U’Ren, Taylor, and Petri, 2006: 121).

Service Learning is an educational strategy set in place to enlighten students with instruction and experience, in addition to improve learning , teach responsibility, and support the community. Service learning is vital to the development of the student, given that it intertwines academic and personal development together. It is aimed to enhance a student’s learning in all aspects of life.

Before deciding where I wanted to do my service learning, I knew I wanted to do something that had some relevance to my degree that I will be receiving in healthcare management. I was eager to gain more experience and become more knowledgeable of how an organization operates as it relates to healthcare management. I was able to secure an opportunity to volunteer at the Dallas Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital. After completing the required VA forms, I got partnered with Mr. Alonzo Price Jr. who is a Management Analyst in Ambulatory Care, which is the department that oversees the Primary Care Providers.

I was assigned to work for America Learns at an elementary school in Roxbury for my service learning placement. America Learns works with students from kindergarten to third grade, the program is structured to offer both tutoring and an additional activity each session. The activity is intended to teach the children critical thinking skills, diversity and cultural awareness, and experiential learning, as well as help to improve basic reading skills. Twice a week each tutor works with a student through the entire program, both homework help, and the activity. The goal is that throughout the weeks of the program the tutor and student will build a relationship that benefits both parties involved.

I really enjoyed my service learning site because I got to work with kids from different backgrounds and help them with pronunciation and reading. I most significant accomplishment for me was be able to help kids who are struggling with English as a second language. I was pleased to see one of the students that I worked with actually came out of his shell and talked to other kids in the class. When I worked with him, he did not clearly pronounce the words, and his responds to me question were just nodding his head or performing some kind of gestures. For me last few weeks there, I was happy to see him being comfortable to speak out and interacting with other students. The most important thing I learned from my experience is that being patience

My Service Learning Project is being done in a Title 1 high school that is terminal for major discipline issues. The students cut class, curse out teachers, smoke, do drugs, walk out of class, pull out electronic items such as cell phones etc. right in the middle of class, and at any time a group of students will run up in a teacher’s class and attack another student at the drop of a dime. As we walk about anywhere on the school grounds, at any time, a big gang brawl may break out. I mean they beat the blood out of one another. There is currently a PBIS program in place; however, discipline at this school is hard to work with because there are so many individuals that need help. I talked to the principal about some of the issues and was told

Ever since I began my service learning project I have learned more about myself and social work as a profession. I have also been challenged by being paired with a client that is completely different than me. Dr. Sue Atwood has lived a very different life than me and views the world differently than I do. The diversity between Dr. Sue Atwood and myself is something that I truly enjoy. After realizing how beautiful diversity is, the competency that would best be applied to my service learning project would be engaging diversity and difference in practice. This competency is something that I have had to master since I began my service learning project. Dr. Sue Atwood and her husband Dr. Wesley Atwood lived a wonderful life together. They traveled

“Service Learning is a form of practical experience that enhances learning in all areas of a nursing program, and the experience of service learning reinforces the moral and civic values inherent in serving others (Ferris State University School of Nursing, 2015, p. 1). Consequently, to enhance my learning I completed my service learning at the Interprofessional Wellness Clinic, which focuses on diabetes education at Ferris State University. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to reflect in detail about my service learning experiences and how this service learning helped me achieve the nursing BSN program outcomes.

After reading the notes that people left for me after receiving kind notes from the children of 3rd grade and the staff, I feel that my action was successful because, according to the cards, I made a difference on how they students treated each other. My actual action is very close to my action plan. I completed every that I planned and even did more, like visiting autistic children that attend my old elementary school. I researched, interviewed, made a presentation, and presented to the school. After completing the project, my knowledge and understanding of service learning improved by seeing the difference between autistic and non autistic children in between the ages of 5-10, and how tease the special needs kids. If I could make any sort

Throughout my service learning, I have mainly experienced working with children, at all different levels of skill set. There are several children in my classroom, who have Individualized Education Programs (IEP). I have worked with most of these particular students in small groups. One student I have spent a quality amount of time with is recovering from a serious brain injury. Although, my assistance has also been provided to all the students through teaching lessons and reading to the classroom. Thus, my service learning experience, has consists mainly of differentiating approaches, in order to provide support to students with a vast range of ability.

I was very intrigued when I found out I was going to partake in a service learning project. I feel that when someone participates in service learning, it is a great opportunity for them to become active school. It also allows one to grow and apply what is learned. I truly feel that service learning is an exceptional opportunity for someone who is ready to take advantage of everything learned and apply it to help out in school.

For first-generation students, Yeh (2010) found that service-learning provided significant opportunities to connect personal values with academics, which enabled participants to find greater meaning in their education and increased their motivation to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Additionally, Hendel (2008) concluded that first-generation students’ experiences in a service-learning class allowed them to expand their self-awareness and ability to develop personal identities by reflecting on shared characteristics with those they collaborated with. Furthermore, McKay and Estrella (2008) examined the impact of service-learning courses on the social and academic integration of 43 first-generation college students and found correlational support

My completed my at the VITA site two hours on Saturday, April 9th, from 9am -11am. Being, that it was the last Saturday they would be open for service I figured it would have been busy while I was there. When I got there Ms. Silver seemed to be really busy. The tasks she gave me was to file the papers documents by last name that were filled out by those who were getting their taxes done and to greet people when they arrived.

This article is written by Associate Professor James Ejiwale of Jackson State University. The purpose of this article is to explain and explore utilizing service learning in building leadership skills amongst its students. Finally, the success of the service learning program is examined.