19 / 40
What organizations can my students work with?
Service-Learning Center has active partnerships with several nonprofit
organizations and public agencies in the area, and can help you select
sites that offer student experiences that match your learning objectives
and your service-learning model. To learn more about these community
partners, please contact Service-Learning Center.
Do students have to complete forms in order to participate in the
service-learning project?
Students only need to complete forms when the community partner
requires them. For example, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo require any
volunteer to complete a background check. We can help you with the
logistics of any forms required by your community partner.
How can I help students connect their work in the community with my
course content?
One of the service-learning principles is that learning requires more than
experience; student involvement in the community does not
automatically yield learning. Harvesting academic and/or civic learning
from a community service experience requires purposeful and
intentional efforts. This process is often referred to as “reflection” in the
service-learning literature. The Service-Learning Center uses the DEAL
model for Critical Reflection (pg. 29). Think about how you will structure
the reflection assignments and activities to help your students make
the connection between their community and classroom learning
experiences.
Does service-learning work in lower-level courses with younger
students?
Students at any level can have successful and rich service-learning
experiences. The key is to select service-learning placements where
students are given levels of responsibility that are appropriate to their
17