Service-learning is an academic method that provides students college credit opportunities to engage in meaningful, community-driven work. Plus, it helps develop important academic and social skills related to the classes they are already enrolled in. There are a variety of excellent, long-form academic resources about the pedagogy of service-learning. But what if you've only got a few minutes to spare? Well, we try to offer resources for everyone. Take a look below for three quick tips for optimizing service-learning. Start small Keep the service-learning experience within the scope of the primary learning objectives of your class. Nothing too overwhelming. Plus, we've done the work in organizing a list official SLOs and competencies, located on our faculty page. Make it relevant Choose a local organization or a cause that aligns with your students' interests. Help students see the real-world application of what they’re learning. Take a look at the partner and placements page for a list of who we regularly work with. Or, you're welcome to talk to us here at the CASL office … [Read more...] about Use service-learning to your advantage with 3 quick tips
The American Democracy Project (ADP) celebrated its tenth anniversary this past summer at their national conference held in San Antonio, Texas. Ten professionals from Missouri State University were among the record-setting 508 in attendance. These ten included Mary Ann Wood, Director of Public Affairs Support; Nasser Darabi, Test Proctoring; Paula Moore, ELI Academic Specialist; Andy Lokie, Coordinator of Special Projects and Editor of the eJournal of Public Affairs; Rachelle Darabi, Associate Provost of Student Development and Public Affairs; Marc Cooper, Professor in the History Department; Mike Stout, Assistant Professor of Sociology; Katherine Nordyke, Director of the Office of Citizenship and Service Learning; Brian Calfano, Associate Professor of Political Science; and, J. Dane' Wallace, Per Course Faculty-Modern and Classical Languages/Global Studies. The conference included several nationally renowned speakers with multiple sessions from which attendees could take ideas back to their respective schools. A new ADP initiative was also announced, the Campus and Community … [Read more...] about Ten Missouri State professionals attend National American Democracy Project Conference