EDU 391W - Academic Service-Learning

Credits: 1

Introduces academic service-learning pedagogy across the disciplines. Develops a service-learning community-based project focusing on course outcomes and/or general education components. Incorporates the essential elements of enhanced academic learning meaningful to the community, and heightened civic engagement; and develops a plan to access all three elements. Credit may be earned in ED 391W or EDU 391W but not both.

Prerequisite(s): Open to all full and part-time faculty, community service partners, and by permission of instructor
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 15 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: None
Pass/NoCredit: Yes

Outcomes and Objectives

Know the pedagogy known as academic service-learning.
1. Define academic service-learning.
2. Explain the difference between volunteerism, academic service-learning, and internships.
3. Develop an understanding of experiential learning as the context of community service conducted for academic service-learning.
4. Develop an awareness of the current literature demonstrating the benefits of academic service-learning.
5. Develop an awareness of the best practices and exemplary programs for academic service-learning.
Apply academic service-learning to a current course, program, or activity.
1. Develop a comprehensive plan for the infusion of academic service-learning, including the essential elements of enhanced course content, meaningful service, increased civic engagement, and sensitivity to diversity.
2. Confirm a partnership/service agreement with a community agency.
3. Develop reflection strategies for the service-learning activity.
4. Draft an assessment plan for the acadmic service-learning component including
  1. concepts(s) being assessed,
  2. indicators to be measured,
  3. methods to measure the degree to which indicators demonstrate the desired concept(s), and
  4. sources for the data (students, faculty, community partner, etc.).
Participate in “writing to learn” activities.
1. Perform writing tasks to promote and demonstrate learning.
2. Write effectively for a specific audience and purpose.