Tracey Weston's List: Service Learning

Service learning projects are great as they are a benefit for both the student doing the project and the community. The following are some helpful tips to make your service learning project a success:
1.) Determine what your county or community needs. Ask family members, co-workers and members of your community. Inquire what type of projects have already been done and what projects still need to be done.
2.) Determine how much time your service learning partner would like you to devote to the project.
3.) After your service learning partner has determined a project for you to complete, make a plan, set goals, set a budget if needed, and determine if the project can be done alone or if you will need help.
4.) Carry out the project as planned.
5.) Feel good about your contribution to your service learning partner and to your community.
6.) Make it fun.

1.) Don't procrastinate - it takes a few weeks to get the project going.
2.) When you contact your service learning partner, ask to speak with the Volunteer Coordinator for the company and let them know what kind of service you are looking to do. Make sure that you tell your partner your skills /strengths to bring to the service project. Find out if any special traing is needed for the project.
3.) During your community service experience: draw up a contract with your service partner, establish a schedule and stick to it, have regular meetings with your service partner and update them on your progress, and have fun.
4.) After your service learning experience: thank the people you worked with and thank them for allowing you to complete your service learning project. If you enjoyed your time, offer to continue serving the company.

Benefits of Service Learning for the Student: Engages students in active learning providing life experience. The project increases students awareness of society issues and needs. Improves the students interpersonal communication skills. Helps the student develop responsibility with active community involvement.
Benefits for the Community: Provides resources for educational, safety and environmental needs of the community. Provides the student with an ethic of service for participation in a community project. Creates potential for future partnerships with the college or university.
Benefits for the Instition: Builds partnerships with the local communitites. Enriches student learning - helps to make the course material more interesting. Provides potential for future scholarships by builing partnerships.

University World News
The article explains how service-learning in America is rapidly growing with popularity. It requires a partnership between an institution, the student and the university. Service-learing projects are great for envolving the student in community services and helping the student with social responsibility. The article also talks about service-learning provides a good service attitude, encourages people to get along and to lead long and happy lives together. Employers look for evidence of active community involvement - the project provides the student with a great opportunity for their resume in being actively involved with community service. Both public and private universities are becoming more and more envolved with service-learing projects. Service-learing projects help to open doors for future potential scholarships for the college or university. The service-learning projects seems to help all parties envolved - don't waste any more time - get started today!