Service-learning has a massive potential as a teaching and learning strategy in college and universities. It gives students a wide range of experience, which often benefit others and the community, while also advancing the goals of curriculum-based learning. Service-learning is often mistaken with volunteering and communication services. Both activities are a form of service within a company and they are not necessary to have a connection with educational purposes, which is the main objective of all service learning projects. Volunteering is a form of working towards helping a specific social or educational duty in the community with no financial gain. Hence, it is similar to community service, because both terms and both groups take the time, …show more content…
It has to be hard to create a good atmosphere and environments inside an organization or business, which has more than 200 employees. I was shockingly surprised to see how many people are willing to volunteer on the weekend with their kids. I witnessed, everybody there with a positive and willingness attitudes. The important aspect of it was, it doesn't matter if you are a volunteer or employee, everyone is important and made to feel they are a significant part of the Houston Food Bank and part of a team working towards a common goal. Not only that, but they make you feel appreciated for what you …show more content…
It gives me an opportunity to experience another world in a short period of time. This experience gave me a definition that there are families out there does not have sufficient, safe and nutritious food on a regular basis. There are millions people out there without food insecure. I had no idea how Houston Food Bank inner workings happened and to see it in person was incredibly amazing. The warehouse is huge, and with the vast amount of teamwork and communication that were required was unbelievable. The amount of effort and time to help those in need are beyond phenomenal. An experience like this can truly change the outlook and give you hope for the future, as well as put things in perspective. I feel very blessed and grateful for this opportunity to see how some of the process works, as well as meeting some great people and an opportunity to feel closer to the community knowing I helped others but also, being appreciated for my
A Service Learning project is one of the project requirements to complete the Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through Ferris State University (FSU). My Service Learning experience was completed at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in November, 2014. This paper includes details of the facility along with the contact information for the coordinator of the project. A description of my role as a volunteer, critical reflection of my experience, and a synthesis of the Service Learning are also included.
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).
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.
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.
When I began my Civics class, thinking it potentially difficult and boring, I did not initially look forward to this project. However, as I did each activity, I found myself enjoying each and every one. From sitting in a board meeting to collecting trash, I discovered something new in all of the ways I volunteered. Not only did the people I volunteered for gain something through my service, but I feel that I gained a lot as well.
The benefit of service learning for the student and community is again a better inform civic minded individual who may use his experience from service learning as a launching pad for career opportunities to better serve within that community. In an article published in the College Student Journal its author noted that with service learning “students gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility" (Strange,
For this service learning project, my group and I organized a goods drive. We placed donation boxes around Denton for art-therapy supplies. The group also held an event on November 6, 2017, at Texas Woman’s University to encourage students to make donations. All the donations went to the Child Advocacy Center in Denton; this organization provides assistance to children that have been victims of physical or sexual abuse. This service learning project relates to the theories and ideas in chapter 13 and chapter 14 of Women’s Lives: A Psychological Exploration. Chapter 13 relates to mental health, and it signifies the importance of social support during stressful
I volunteered at the Hubbard House, which is a home away from home for people who have family in the hospital or are being treated by the hospital and don’t want to live there, as the hospital is a 5 minute bus ride away. Our job was to serve the residents who were currently housed there, a hot homemade spaghetti and meatballs meal with garlic bread and assorted desserts. We served them as if it were a restaurant and brought smiles to their faces.
It was my first time ever volunteering for something. I believe I was more nervous because I didn’t know exactly what I was going to be doing and I didn’t want anything going wrong my first time. When I showed up to the mobile pantry it was completely different. Everyone volunteering was very friendly and helpful. They all work together as a community which is admirable. I was a stocker at the event. A stocker is one who is in charge of stacking tables with produce and disposes of empty boxes or makes them available to participants. I definitely enjoyed this because it opened my eyes of how many families out there are in need. Sometimes we take for granted what we have while other people wished they had what we do. I believe the Denton Hunger Coalition is a great organization that has many goals they want to accomplish and will continue to grow. One of the weaknesses the organization has is getting more people to come out to the food pantry. Since they are just starting some of the agencies out there maybe forget to promote them which is why many people don’t know about the pantry. Although, one of their strengths is that Denton community comes together as one in order to help others. I believe my volunteer time was of value to the agency because they were able to work faster with an extra pair of hands. I enjoyed volunteering and helping others
In the summer of 2014, I started as a volunteer tutor for the Youth Tutoring Program
I chose to volunteer at the Houston Food Bank because many people are affected by not getting enough food to eat every day. The Houston Food Bank is a member of the nation’s
Our service-learning project required one of the following opportunities to be fulfilled, which are: to attend a service of different religious traditions, for a non-practicing individual to seek out someone who is, or to interview a religious leader. While attending a service, spending time with a religious person or conducting an interview we are to pay attention to differences and similarities between religious traditions or our own self. For my service-learning experience I have selected to reach out to my older sister who is part of a Jehovah Witness congregation. I selected this opportunity since I’m a non-practicing Catholic. I will share my service- learning experience by sharing our discussion regarding
According to Kathleen Flecky and Lynn Gitlow, service-learning is defined as, “learning that occurs in experiences, reflection, and civic engagement” (Flecky & Gitlow, 2011). In recent years more universities are implementing service learning into their curriculum. A key concept of service learning is civic responsibility. Civic responsibility can simply be defined as your responsibilities as a citizen. As will be shown later in this paper, service learning can have many benefits not only to a student, but also to the community members
The Society for Experiential Education defines service learning as, “any carefully monitored service experience in which a student has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he or she is learning throughout the experience” (Staton 1). Service learning is a great opportunity to get extra learning experiences while also experiencing the community around the universities campus. “Service learning allows students to apply what they are learning from their instructors, peers, and readings to genuine tasks that occur outside the four walls of the classroom while simultaneously helping others” (Staton 1). Universities are using service learning to expand beyond the classroom and provide students with experiences that will
The term ‘‘service-learning’’ means a method (A) under which students or participants learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service that (i) is conducted in and meets the needs of a community; (ii) is coordinated with an elementary school, secondary school, institution of higher education, or community service program, and with the community; and (iii) helps foster civic responsibility; and (B) that (i) is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students, or the educational components of the community service program in which the