Service+learning+winners+and+losers

**Service learning winners and losers: What do graduate students look for when selecting** **a service learning project?** Jeffrey Winter, Associate Professor, National-Louis University jwinter@nl.edu]



**Key Words:** Graduate students, social justice, motivation, course selection

**Track:** Student development and learning

**Format:** Poster presentation

**Date & time:** Thursday 9:00

**Location:** Salon 4 / Salon 9

**Summary:** In a graduate class on social justice foundations of history and philosophy of education, students chose organizations for a service-learning project. They described reasons why they selected a particular area, what they learned, and implications for what they did in the project. This paper summarizes data from their essays and analyzes findings to better understand the reasons why students have preferences for some kinds of projects and implications for our role as faculty.

Students select an organization from a predetermined list or suggest their own choice for their service learning project. A requirement for the course is to write an essay and make a presentation which summarizes: 1) Background on the organization, social, political, or educational goals. 2) Description of the time spent working with the organization (minimum of 5 hours), 3) Reasons why they selected this organization and explanation of how it relates to course goals 4) Discussing how the organization strives to address issues of social justice, questions about equity or opportunity, or other social, economic, or educational problems, and 4) Conclusions and implications which explains the degree to which the organization succeeds in meeting its stated goals.

Qualitative analysis of the final essays will reveal data about which organizations were selected and why, the perceived effectiveness of the organization, relationship between the project goals and course goals, and the reaction of the students after completing the service learning project. Implications as interpreted by the researcher will be discussed, and responses from attendees will be an important part of this session.

**References:** Bender, S. (2005) Monroe Community College Measuring the impact of service learning at MCC: Designing and implementing and assessment approach. //The Journal for Civic Commitment// 6. Accessed March 30, 2011. [].

Boruff-Jones, P. (2006) "Civic engagement: Available resources." //C&RL News, 67//, (1).

Corey, S. and Motte, M. (2002). "Teaching urban planning and public policy: Developing a "city as classroom" model at two New England colleges." //Issues in Teaching and Learning 1//:12.

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