We live in a constantly changing society that demands us to be open-minded and adaptable. Seeing things through a new lens or perspective is vital in today's world. We believe service-learning can help improve these essential abilities. Through experiential learning - we develop both skill and empathy through hands-on practices in the community. But that second part is not quite complete without also being able to recognize our personal biases. That's why we believe the Fuse program is an excellent addition to service-learning's programming. Service-learning offers an opportunity for individuals to step out of their comfort zones and gain a new perspective on the world around them. It can help shift narratives by introducing new ideas and experiences that challenge our preconceptions and biases. And now, service-learning feels more complete with the inclusion of Fuse principles and activities. The Fuse program offers new media methods for making these activities easier and more accessible, from card games to podcasts, there's a lot to explore -- take a … [Read more...] about The Fuse program gets a refresh with service-learning
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
By Charles Whitaker and Ethan Gambriel There are many things in life that make wildly successful, yet unlikely combinations: dessert and breakfast, chocolate and peanut butter, Romeo and Juliet. Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy? Yeah, we’ll stand by that. In other words, life often reminds us that, despite our differences, our uniqueness can bring new opportunities that encourage us to grow as humans together. This was exactly what two roommates discovered when they took an Honors College service-learning course taught by CASL’s very own, Dr. Kathy Nordyke, in Spring 2023. Abby Bennett and Vaeya Nichols have fundamentally different academic interests. “I’ve always wanted to do [something] with biology,” says Abby, a microbiology student who grew up on a farm about an hour north of Springfield. On the other hand, Vaeya, who has a background in art and design and majors in Illustration, is interested in working on children’s books. One could argue that there are typically not a lot of easy to identify pathways for combining these academic interests. But one of service-learning’s … [Read more...] about Dynamic duos, cross-disciplinary combos, and finding connection through composting