ServiceLearning: Get Out of the Classroom and Into the Real World

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Service-Learning Get Out of the Classroom and
Into the Real World

• Jan Shoemaker
• Director, Louisiana State University
• Service-Learning Program
• Jshoema_at_lsu.edu

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What Is Your Experience With the Community?

• Your name
• Your home town
• Your community service?
• What did you learn from that?

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Key Questions

• What is service-learning?
• Why should I get involved?
• What kinds of service-learning courses are
  offered?
• How do I get involved?

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What Is Service-Learning?

• Hands on learning
• Applying what you learn to make your community a
  better place to live
• Helping others while you learn

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Reflection connects service and learning.

• Service-learning

Pure Service
Pure Learning
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LSUs Mission

• The generation, preservation, dissemination, and
  application of knowledge and cultivation of the
  arts for the benefit of the people of the state,
  the nation, and the global community.

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Why Should I Get Involved?

• Former students recommend it
• Different not an add-on
• Learning is more interesting and fun!
• Works for different kinds of learners
• Make a difference in the world
• Get into graduate schools
• Build your resume for job market
• Learn about problems that YOU will have to solve
• Meet interesting people
• You will remember what you learn

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What Kinds of Service-learning Courses Are
Offered?

• Placements
• Or
• Projects

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English Example

• Composition students help elementary students
  with reading and writing or write newsletters and
  grants for non-profits. These students wrote a
  grant that won 50,000 for McMains Childrens
  Developmental Center.

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Literature and Theater Examples

• Drama students write scripts based on oral
  history transcripts and produce them for middle
  schools in which the stories took place.
• Theater students write and produce scripts that
  deal with community issues.

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Math Example

• Math students tutor in elementary schools.

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Biological Engineering Example

• Biological engineering students work with
  elementary school students to design and
  construct environmentally sensitive playgrounds
  and butterfly gardens.

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Information Systems and Decision Sciences Example

• ISDS student teams design, code, test, document,
  and implement a software development project for
  Habitat for Humanity.

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Architecture Example

• Architecture students assist community members in
  developing a development plan and a web site for
  community organizations to facilitate community
  development and communication.

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Education Example

• Education students develop computer-based
  instructional materials for Scotlandville
  elementary school teachers.

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How Can I Get Involved?

• www.cas.lsu.edu
• Click Service-Learning
• Click Courses
• Or
• Call Service-Learning office (578-9264) for new
  courses.

You can make a difference!