Tonight I watched a Lilly Conference presentation by Dr. Mary Marshall from Cal State Long Beach on incorporating service learning elements into courses. This is a topic I’ve been thinking about but know very little… yet have been hearing great examples in podcasts. Course-based service learning, as mentioned by Dr. Marshall, helps participants increase personal efficiency, awareness of the world, empathy, content knowledge… However, service learning should be connected to course content and include reflection and student feedback components. There are barriers to service learning: time, funding, and logistics (transportation, safety). Marshall also mentioned some challenges I had not considered: student access to transportation, parking, having to reduce work hours to do volunteer community work for a grade, time/money for background checks, tight schedules for working students and parents or caregivers. Another important aspect is that students may perceive service learning as busy work if the connection to course content is not explicit. Marshall designed an activity aligned with their course objectives. Students updated/created a magazine for senior citizens in the Long Beach community. Students updated resources, interviewed people, and had the opportunity to do research and be creative. There was no need for transportation, the schedule was flexible, and it was cost-effective. Students worked in groups and had a group contract. Marshall provided feedback and milestones with the goal of improving the product before sharing with the community. This was a writing intensive assignment, and it aligned with the course objectives and content. Furthermore, it provided real-world connections and experience. Marshall also provided several helpful tips and considerations for starting a service learning project or e-service learning component. All these tips encouraged me to think about a similar assignment for the BIT 295 Biotechnology and Sustainability course I am designing. I think there are numerous opportunities to raise community awareness of sustainability and responsible electronic waste recycling/disposal! Marshall also made me think about smaller assignments with connections to our community. The concept of e-service learning also aligns with our open pedagogy initiative and Delftia Wikipedia project we did last fall. I think I now have to search fir community contacts or reconnect to work on deliverables that would truly be useful and reasonable for a semester-long course.
