Service Learning

See attached. 

Applying course content to real world experience so students understand why they are learning an applicable skill. Although using desktop publishing programs such as Adobe InDesign is a critical skill expected in many graphic design occupations, few students understand what desktop publishing is or how important it is. I wanted my EMCC students to experience the "scratch and sniff" effects of producing and publishing print products. So, when I first taught Adobe InDesign in Fall 2016, I arranged for my students to create print products for the Career and Transfer Center.

Multiple Intelligences is a theory that students have "intelligence" in a variety of fields (artistic, mathmatic, kinestetic, verbal, etc). By allowing students to use their strengths applied in to context of the discipline (in my case Communication), students can hopefully feel more confident in their abilities and engage better with the content. This could be aplied to practically any project in any discipline.

One of my goals in implementing service learning into the CPD150 "Strategies For College Success" curriculum was to enhance students’ academic success by collaborating with a local agency partner. The feedback provided using both a pre- and post-assessment provided measurable insight into the mutual benefits for both students and the agencies they served. Finally, the biggest take-away was the measurement of how transferable the CPD 150 skills that I taught were to the actual service learning.

I piloted service learning into my three CPD 150 classes (“Strategies for College Success”) Fall 2016 with hopes of integrating authentic educational experiences with real life applications by meeting the needs of both students and volunteer agencies in our community. I worked closely with Landis Elliott in establishing an innovative way to bring service learning into the CPD curriculum while fulfilling EMCC’s “Learning College” philosophy. By adding service learning to the CPD learning objectives, students were able to apply in-class learning (communication skill

The Outreach Team facilitated a Service Learning project which included students participating in EMCC's ACE Program. The project utilized materials from I Am Human: Campaign to End Derogatory Language. 100 students watched the I Am Human Video, completed assessments, exhibited critical thinking through group dicussions, and coalesed the event by using kind words to create tokens of gratitude. Please see attachments for assemsent results and detailed report of the Service Learning event.

What and how do you approach an online course with a required Service Learning component? SWU 291 online, with a 40 hour Service Learning requirement will pilot in Spring 2017. Some of the approaches to ensure fluid communication and support to students include a weekly small group peer support discussion forum, weekly check ins with the instructor, and a journal assignment related to the Service Learning. In addition, a complete timeline and procedure page and Service Learning Module will help guide the students through this process.

 In 2015/16 EMCC hired a staff member and faculty member to create and manage the Service Learning program. Beginning in 2015/16 there were new initiatives to promote SL on campus: workshops, multiple presentations (i.e.Day-of-Learning), in-class presentations and one-on-one faculty meetings in order to increase faculty and student participation.

The EDU students at EMCC strive to become future preK-12th grade teachers.  I strive to prepare my students for the reality of teaching by teaching the students to lesson plan, to provide effective instruction,  and in maintaining strong classroom management.   For the past 3 years, my students have learned the foundational skills in each area through in-class lesson plan writing and teaching their lessons to peers.  While this is valuable practice,  it is not the same as actually teaching children.   In or