Service learning.
Service learning is acknowledged as an authentic and often powerful learning experience in children's lives.
In July 2006 DEST commissioned a scoping study of service learning.
From the DEST final report: DEST Service Learning final report
The consultation revealed that Service Learning in Australia has a potentially powerful place in the education and development of young people to address critical issues of personal and social development. There is a well identified gap in the social meeting space whereby young people are able to connect with different others, developing empathy for them and contributing in a very real sense to the development of the broader social fabric. There is also an identified need to provide young people with the broadest possible opportunities in which to acquire work ready skills and a sense of responsibility for themselves and others. The personal growth that evolves during deep reflection about participation and leadership through Service Learning is shown in the international research to bring about personal capacity for independent living in a more just society.
From Service Learning Australia website:
In April 2008, the National Youth Leadership Council in the U.S.A. released the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. These state that good quality service-learning is: meaningful, links to the curriculum, is of sufficient duration and intensity, includes cognitively challenging reflection activities, incorporates student direction, develops collaborative partnerships, promotes respect for diversity, includes progress monitoring.
Root and Billig (2008) found that teachers with the strongest student civic and academic outcomes had reflection activities that asked students to investigate social problems more deeply, more thoroughly consider potential causes and solutions to social problems, weigh alternatives, resolve conflicts among themselves, consider how to persuade others, and manage complex tasks. Eyler and Giles (1999) found that reflection activities helped students apply learning to real-life situations and acquire stronger problem-solving skills. Engaging in reflection also was related to increased openness to new ideas, the ability to see issues in a new way, and the ability to analyze issues systemically.
A service learning case study.
Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston is a member of Round Square, an organisation founded by Kurt Hahn. Round Square's stated intention is to promote global citizenship upon the pillars of IDEALS: internationalism; democracy; environment; adventure; leadership; and service.
One particular initiative Scotch Oakburn College (SOC) participates in under the auspices of Round Square is an ongoing involvement with indigenous communities in Cape York. This involvement takes various forms, primarily students from SOC senior school visiting the Cape York communities, then in return hosting students from Cape York to visit Tasmania and SOC. Funding for this is provided by the SOC students and families.
During their time at Cape York SOC students participate in various activities within the communities including: learning about some of the skills and traditions of the indigenous people; school experiences; social experiences.
Questions:
This visit is a service experience. Is it intended as a service learning experience? How so?
What were students' responses to the visit to Cape York? Previous reports from participating students ....
This is a service experience. Is it intended as a service learning experience?
How did they engage with their service experience before during after their visit (what did they think it would be like before going?how did they feel about going into the Cape York communities? what was the experience like for them when they were there? what remains with them now - how do they feel about the experience, in what way has it affected their perspectives?)
Was the visit to the Cape York communities a worthwhile experience? Why?
Did they intend to follow up their visit with any particular action?
Would they consider going back there again?
New media.
http://www.minnisjournals.com.au/educationtoday/articles.php?articleid=753
It has been suggested that web 2.0 media resources (including blogs, wikis, mobile filming/photography applications, google plus, and social media such as facebook, youtube and twitter) presents possibilities for enabling active citizenship (source).
Increasingly these new media are being taken up by young people (source), including students at Scotch Oakburn College. (include here findings showing usage of new media by school children? Surveys of soc students?). Of interest to the researcher is whether new media presents possibilities for students participating in service learning experiences in their role as active citizens of the world.
Questions:
Have any SOC students used new media in relation to their involvement with Round Square? Or on visits to Cape York communities? (Pre/during/post. What for?)
Can students see opportunities for using new media tools in future service experiences?
Service learning is acknowledged as an authentic and often powerful learning experience in children's lives.
In July 2006 DEST commissioned a scoping study of service learning.
From the DEST final report: DEST Service Learning final report
The consultation revealed that Service Learning in Australia has a potentially powerful place in the education and development of young people to address critical issues of personal and social development. There is a well identified gap in the social meeting space whereby young people are able to connect with different others, developing empathy for them and contributing in a very real sense to the development of the broader social fabric. There is also an identified need to provide young people with the broadest possible opportunities in which to acquire work ready skills and a sense of responsibility for themselves and others. The personal growth that evolves during deep reflection about participation and leadership through Service Learning is shown in the international research to bring about personal capacity for independent living in a more just society.
From Service Learning Australia website:
In April 2008, the National Youth Leadership Council in the U.S.A. released the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. These state that good quality service-learning is: meaningful, links to the curriculum, is of sufficient duration and intensity, includes cognitively challenging reflection activities, incorporates student direction, develops collaborative partnerships, promotes respect for diversity, includes progress monitoring.
Root and Billig (2008) found that teachers with the strongest student civic and academic outcomes had reflection activities that asked students to investigate social problems more deeply, more thoroughly consider potential causes and solutions to social problems, weigh alternatives, resolve conflicts among themselves, consider how to persuade others, and manage complex tasks. Eyler and Giles (1999) found that reflection activities helped students apply learning to real-life situations and acquire stronger problem-solving skills. Engaging in reflection also was related to increased openness to new ideas, the ability to see issues in a new way, and the ability to analyze issues systemically.
A service learning case study.
Ideals at Work:
Education for World Stewardship in the Round Square Schools (by Peter Tacy)Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston is a member of Round Square, an organisation founded by Kurt Hahn. Round Square's stated intention is to promote global citizenship upon the pillars of IDEALS: internationalism; democracy; environment; adventure; leadership; and service.
One particular initiative Scotch Oakburn College (SOC) participates in under the auspices of Round Square is an ongoing involvement with indigenous communities in Cape York. This involvement takes various forms, primarily students from SOC senior school visiting the Cape York communities, then in return hosting students from Cape York to visit Tasmania and SOC. Funding for this is provided by the SOC students and families.
During their time at Cape York SOC students participate in various activities within the communities including: learning about some of the skills and traditions of the indigenous people; school experiences; social experiences.
Questions:
This visit is a service experience. Is it intended as a service learning experience? How so?
What were students' responses to the visit to Cape York? Previous reports from participating students ....
This is a service experience. Is it intended as a service learning experience?
How did they engage with their service experience before during after their visit (what did they think it would be like before going?how did they feel about going into the Cape York communities? what was the experience like for them when they were there? what remains with them now - how do they feel about the experience, in what way has it affected their perspectives?)
Was the visit to the Cape York communities a worthwhile experience? Why?
Did they intend to follow up their visit with any particular action?
Would they consider going back there again?
New media.
http://www.minnisjournals.com.au/educationtoday/articles.php?articleid=753
It has been suggested that web 2.0 media resources (including blogs, wikis, mobile filming/photography applications, google plus, and social media such as facebook, youtube and twitter) presents possibilities for enabling active citizenship (source).
Increasingly these new media are being taken up by young people (source), including students at Scotch Oakburn College. (include here findings showing usage of new media by school children? Surveys of soc students?). Of interest to the researcher is whether new media presents possibilities for students participating in service learning experiences in their role as active citizens of the world.
Questions:
Have any SOC students used new media in relation to their involvement with Round Square? Or on visits to Cape York communities? (Pre/during/post. What for?)
Can students see opportunities for using new media tools in future service experiences?
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