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Deadlines for proposed course submissions:
Spring Semester, 2009
October 15, 2008
Fall Semester, 2009
March 15, 2009
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It is recommended that service-learning courses be assessed at the end of the semester using the service- learning survey forms provided, compiled and reported by the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.
These forms are not designed for academic assessment, but they evaluate the service-
learning and community-based experience aspect of a service-learning course.
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Faculty and Service-Learning
What is Service Learning? ECU’s Definition
Service-learning is a method of instruction that has the benefit of meeting academic course objectives and helping students develop a sense of engagement and social responsibility. All volunteer hours and service hours are not service learning. Service-learning courses should meet the following broad guidelines:
- service-learning is structured within a course and has a formal, academic curriculum that is rooted in the discipline in which the course is being offered;
- the course contains a set of organized community-based learning activities through which students directly serve a constituency as a means to address an identified community need;
- the course provides structured opportunities for students to formally connect their service activities to the course curriculum and to broader social issues through reflective methods.
The Five Criteria for a Service-Learning Course
A service-learning course should meet the following criteria or guidelines:
- Integrate the service with course content. The service component should support the academic focus of the course.
- Involve students in service that meets community needs. The Volunteer & Service-Learning Center can help you find community placements for students.
- Provide structured opportunities for reflection such as writing assignments, discussions, presentations, or journals.
- Provide a clear explanation (in the syllabus) of both academic and service expectations and how the performance in the course will be graded.
- Clarify that while service is an integral part of the course academic credit is for demonstrated learning.
Service-Learning Intended Outcomes
While each course will have learning objectives, through the service experience students will gain one or all of the following:
- Awareness of community & social issues
- Respect for people and diversity in all its forms
- Greater self leadership which includes understanding critical issues and different perspectives, developing empathy, developing critical thinking, and personal development
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