Community Service-Learning
Photo by T. Smith, 2009, with subject's permission
This page provides information about Community Service-Learning (CSL), the educational method used in COMS 463: Advanced Technical & Professional Communication.
In this course students are engaged in CSL in order to build awareness of local CSL projects and how they develop community while educating students through experience in practical, challenging, course-appropriate service projects.
New York Times article
"Does service-learning really help?"
"More and more universities are establishing offices to oversee programs and otherwise formalize what has until recently been an ad hoc experiment in civic engagement. “It’s a very fragile relationship, that between the academic institution and the community organization,” says Lanese Aggrey, director of academic service learning at the University of Texas, Austin. “We need to stop looking at it as a one-dimensional thing and start building a real partnership.” (page 2 of article)Service-Learning research report
-- quoted from a Feb. 11, 2010 email announcement from the "ResearchSLCE" email list
A new research brief from the American Association of Community Colleges, "Improving Student Learning Outcomes with Service Learning," reveals that students who participate in service learning score higher on institutional learning outcomes such as critical thinking, communication, civic responsibility, academic development, and educational success. Service learners also saw themselves as more competitive in the job market than those who did not have service learning experience. In addition, 85 percent of these students believed that service learning should be practiced in more courses at their colleges, and 87 percent would encourage other students to take courses that offer service learning. The 16-page brief summarizes the findings and implications of a three-year study at 10 colleges that participated in AACC's 2006-2009 grant program, Community Colleges Broadening Horizons through Service Learning. More than 2,300 students and 68 faculty across a variety of disciplines participated in end-of-course surveys and focus groups. The entire text of the research brief may be found here on AACC's website. From Zoe Fleming
LinksWebsites and blogs with resources Video Interview on CBCWith Cheryl Rose, former CACSL Director, from the Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning website, 2007This image clip from the video will take you to the CACSL website where you can view the video.  This video plays within the CACSL Website | Video: "What is Service-Learning?"Video from University of Central Florida (UCF)Video: Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops BC
This innovative service-learning course involved students from various countries. See what they have to say about their service-learning experience. |
