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Deadlines for proposed service-learning course
are as follows:

Spring 2010
October 15, 2009

Fall 2010
March 15, 2010


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.

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;
  • he 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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East Carolina University | Volunteer & Service-Learning Center
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