"Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will understand"
Benjamin Franklin
Academic service learning can be an effective teaching strategy that brings service into the lives of students, allowing them to integrate “real life” experiences into academically rigorous courses. By incorporating service projects into the course faculty are given the opportunity to address important social problems and enliven students education.
A three year study conducted by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute explored the impact service learning has on students and faculty in higher education. The study revealed that student participation in service has a significant positive effect on academic performance, values, self-efficacy, leaderships, choice of a service career, and plans to participate in service after college. To download a copy of the full report click here.
Sociology 499: Capstone: Elizabeth Hartung and Daniel Lee
Capstone students provided service in the form of research to local agencies. Students worked on several community issue/needs such as housing, health and welfare, after school programs and education issues. Students participated in data collection and analysis for Ventura County Housing and Homeless Coalition, Westminster Free Clinic and FOOD Share. Students also built upon an after school program that was piloted in the fall Capstone course at Villa Cesar Chavez. Data collected for local agencies will inform county reports and grant writing proposals. Children being tutored by CSUCI students at Villa Cesar Chavez will be followed through high school to see if tutoring makes a difference in school success and completion.
Gender Studies 433: Gay/ Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender: Julia Balen
In this introduction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersexed, and transgendered lives students in spring 2007 gathered oral histories from LGBTIQ peoples who had lived in Ventura County for at least five years. In spring 2008 students used the stories to develop questions that they would like to ask the interviewees. Interviewees were invited to the classroom to meet with students and answer questions in small groups. The goal of the project is to edit all of the materials into a publishable format for the use of the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance.
Management 492: Service Learning/Internship: Rudy Estrada
Students participated in hands-on learning experience by conducting field case studies and providing consulting services to local small business owners. Students assist businesses in the planning and marketing efforts needed not only to survive, expand, and diversify, but also to obtain additional funding for their business operations.
ESRM 492: Service Learning in New Orleans: Sean Anderson
Students traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana for the second year in a row to examine drivers of wetland loss and policy failures, conduct post-Hurricane Katrina environmental impact assessments, and rebuild homes. While there students listened to presentations by Tulane University professors on the environmental impact of Katrina, toured levees, the French Quarters, and helped rebuild buildings in Buros, Louisiana.
Communication 443: Environmental Communication: Tracylee Clarke
Students engaged in a variety of activities including beach clean up and trail restoration. Working in conjunction with National Park Service Staff (NPS), students had the opportunity firsthand to see the benefits of community engagement while establishing a relationship with NPS public servants. Students participated in an interpretive hike/discussion co-led by a Ranger and a Park Interpretive Specialist Araceli Dominquez (CSUCI graduate of the ESRM program!). The discussion focused on the place and responsibility of humans in the greater eco-system and the importance of involvement in environmental advocacy and civic engagement. Students had the opportunity to learn about human impact on the environment and ways to mitigate degradation through civic engagement and responsible action.
Education 101: Introduction to Elementary Education: Bob Bleicher, Merilyn Buchanan and Manuel Correria
For the past 5 years Education 101 has worked with the Ocean View School District to place students in some of the neediest schools tutoring in classrooms. Students serve at Laguna Vista, Tierra Vista and Mar Vista each semester providing classroom support and tutoring assistance for kindergarten through second grades.
Education 445: Chicano Child and Adolescent: Kathleen Contreras
CSUCI students tutor Monday through Wednesday in the afternoons at Villa Cesar Chavez housing community. Tutoring emphasis is placed on writing and math skills. They also participated in the Cesar Chavez celebration honoring his legacy of service. Students also hosted a "College Night" for all the parents, an informative Spanish presentation on how to prepare your child for college.
University 392: Mexican Mangroves and Wildlife Experience/Service Learning: Don Rodriguez and Brad Monsma
Students traveled to La Manzanilla, Mexico to understand issues facing Mexican conservation. Working closely with researchers students participated in community based research projects such as baseline inventorying, GIS mapping, restoration design and implementation. Data gathered from these projects will be used to inform local restoration and educational initiatives.
Environmental Science Resource Management 463: Water Resource Management: Don Rodriguez
Students contributed to a water quality monitoring projects within the Calleguas Creek Watershed. Students worked in teams to monitor water quality in a variety of settings throughout the semester. Students gained an appreciation for the complexities of environmental monitoring and were introduced to the range of environmental careers available at the local, regional, and national levels.
BUS/BIO 493: Service Learning At The Zoo: Dennis Muraoka and Alex McNeill
Students assisted with the Santa Barbara Zoo’s outreach efforts in Ventura County by gathering, organizing and presenting information about the cities in the western part of the county. Students collected data about the cities and used this data to prepare community profiles. Students presented their findings at a luncheon held at the Santa Barbara Zoo to Rich Block, Zoo Director and CEO, and Dean Noble, Marketing Director of the Santa Barbara Zoo.
The Faculty Resource Guidebook is designed to be a reference tool for faculty incorporating service learning into their course curriculum. The Resource Guidebook provides step-by-step instructions to get you started with the service learning process. To download a copy of the Faculty Resource Guidebook click here (PDF, 303.00KB).
Structured reflection is integral to service learning because it connects and reinforces in-class work, course readings, and service learning experiences. It provides an opportunity for students to think critically about service experiences, examine and challenge personal values, beliefs, and opinions. It provides a platform for students to ask questions, share ideas and experiences, challenge current solutions to community issues and develop plans to address community needs. FOR REFLECTION IDEAS CLICK HERE.
Facilitating Reflection: A Manual for Leaders and Educators offers insight to the importance of reflection in the classroom and includes ideas for many reflection activities. To download a copy of the manual click here.
The following are links that provide exemplary service-learning syllabi across a wide variety of disciplines.
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