DSU students to participate in Belize service-learning trip
When you think of a typical spring break, you think of droves of college students heading south for sun, fun and adventure. For 15 Dakota State University students, that is exactly what they are going to do, but it’s not exactly what you might think. The next generation of DSU elementary teachers will take their classroom learning to Belize for a service-learning trip of a lifetime.
The DSU College of Education students and faculty will spend two weeks at Victorious Nazarene Primary School in San Jose Succotz, Belize. The DSU class, known as EDFN 492: Study Abroad: Service-Learning in Belize, will focus their efforts on the Pre-K through 8th students at the elementary school. During the service-learning trip, the DSU students and faculty will focus on not only classroom learning, but also hands-on service projects. This year, one of their goals is to implement a small library in each classroom and expand a larger elementary library with donated, gently-used books. They hope to have the books and bookcases in the classrooms by the time they leave. Service-learning is not only about the gain of knowledge in the classroom, it is also about giving to their community and gaining leadership skills.
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The first five elementary education students, who are in their student teaching semester, and DSU Adjunct Professor, Sue Filler, leave a week before spring break starts, at the end of February 2016 for the remaining students and faculty, including Crystal Pauli and Vicki Sterling, will fly in the following
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