NYLC Blog
Beyond Service: Discovering Service-Learning
Service learning has been a passion of mine even before I was aware of the term service learning. As a high school student I attended a summer program, the Global Youth Village, which focused on youth leadership, dialogue, conflict resolution, and cross-cultural understanding. As part of this program, youth participated in action teams, which were 2-3 week long service projects meant to be youth-created and youth-led. As a student, I was inspired by the process. In a very short time we learned how to reflect on our roles in a group, organize ourselves, and truly work together to decide on an idea and plan of action. We decided to host a hunger banquet to shed light on issues of hunger and overall global inequity. Although the ‘learning’ side occurred throughout, I think the key moment was during our debrief of the project. People learned the capacity of their leadership and what they were able to accomplish.
This idea has stuck with me ever since. I realized that the most exciting part for me wasn’t simply accomplishing the goal or completing the project; it was seeing the transformation of people as they went through the process. That is what sets apart ‘service learning’ from simply ‘service’ or ‘learning.’
That transformation part of service learning has been a key motivation in the work I’ve done since graduating high school and college. Throughout college I worked as a counselor at the same summer program, leading action teams on art for social change, the power of mental maps, and leadership council. After graduating college, I worked for a year as an Americorps Promise Fellow with the Minnesota Alliance for Youth, an organization dedicated to providing service learning opportunities for middle school youth. Now, in my current position as an Americorps VISTA for the American Oromo Community of MN through the City of St. Paul, I am excited to develop the infrastructure of a service learning program for our afterschool program. I have never been to the NYLC National Service Learning Conference before, but I am thrilled to attend in March. I see it as an opportunity to gather resources, have fun, and connect with people across the country inspired for the same reason.
Amanda Duhon is an Americorps VISTA at the American Oromo Community of MN, City of St. Paul VISTA Program
Service-Learning for Preschoolers
The AmeriCorps LEAP Initiative focuses on social and emotional development of young children in a 20-county region across southeastern Minnesota. LEAP members enter preschool classrooms with skills and strategies to help kids with self-regulation, building a foundation to prepare them for kindergarten and all that follows. I am a proud LEAP Initiative alumnus. The other week, I had the opportunity to reconnect with my former program for a discussion on service-learning in a preschool setting.
Before traveling to southern Minnesota to present, I had to answer one question:
Would the content be relevant?
Service-learning is not bound by strict or arbitrary age limits, but our focus at NYLC is primarily on K-12. I had to ask myself what service-learning in a preschool classroom would look like. After culling examples from resources like “Service-Learning in the PreK-3 Classroom,” and a hefty amount of brainstorming, I realized something.
Yes, service-learning looks very different from a preschool classroom to a high school classroom, but the benefit, the potential, the heart of service-learning remains the same. Service-learning is shown to curb dropout rates by keeping high school students engaged and invested. That same hands-on, differentiated instruction aspect of service-learning has the power to engage preschool students struggling to keep pace with the class.
Service-learning teaches children compassion and confidence. By writing letters to soldiers or growing flowers for people in the hospital, preschool students learn empathy and compassion for those in harm’s way or who are suffering. They simultaneously build literacy, scientific knowledge, and understanding in a host of other academic areas. They come out the other side proud, aware of their ability to help others. They come out with confidence, better able to self-regulate and interact socially, ready for kindergarten.
It was an honor, if not a bit surreal to join the LEAP Initiative in my new capacity. Only a year ago, I was in their shoes. My year of service with LEAP is precisely what prepared me to return as a credible authority on service-learning and social-emotional development. My service has prepared me for all that will follow. Service-learning has the power to prepare students of all ages just the same, for whatever lies ahead.
The Ripple Effect of Mentoring in Action
It is 3:15 on a Tuesday afternoon and outside L. C. Webster Elementary School in North St. Paul there is a bustling of students clambering into cars, buses, and otherwise milling around waiting for their rides to come. Spread throughout four classrooms and a gymnasium inside the school, however, many students are turning their attention to the next hour. These five rooms and varied groups of students are composed of Webster students , their teachers, and high school students from ISD 622, North St. Paul, Oakdale, and Maplewood. These students have come together in the interest of providing a learning environment unlike that provided in the classroom during the school day; they’ve come to explore art, both performance and hand crafted, engineering, reading, the Boy Scouts, and sports. The elementary students stay for the opportunity of the co-curricular activities and to be in community with a high school mentor. The high school students join them in these “Sparks Time” afterschool activities because they are aware of the effect that the achievement gap is having in their community and have decided to act against it. By joining these young students in exploring a wide array of interests, the teachers and high school mentors provide an environment rich with inquiry and role modeling. In turn, and through the processes of serving, these high school students learn how to be of service, they learn about their capacity as role models and citizens, and as teachers, and, along with the young ones they serve, they learn how to participate as team members, actors and creators, and even improve their reading and communication skills. This desire to create a community of possibility through inquiry and service in an environment struggling against the pressures of the achievement gap is the very picture of service-learning.
Four years ago Angelica Torralba-Olague and her first group of students from ISD 622 joined NYLC at the summer National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) and has returned each following year. Since then the program has taken various forms and served in varying capacities within the school district, but it has always maintained its strong emphasis on student leadership and being of service to its community. Two years ago marked the premier of Students Working on the Achievement Gap. SWAG as it is popularly known, aimed to empower high school students to tackle the issue of the achievement gap in their schools by positioning them as mentors to younger students, and following its success in year one has expanded to include “Sparks Time.” SWAG is still active, emphasizing one-on-one mentoring with students and their class work in the afterschool setting differing slightly from “Sparks Time” which offers a host of different activities and learning outcomes, switching topics every six to eight weeks. Since its inception Project SWAG has also seen the creation of a student-led college access and visit program and a student-led staff training for school staff working with young people in service-learning. Angelica says that, leaving NYLT, her students had “the foundational knowledge about service-learning and the achievement gap” and NYLT had “instilled in them the passion to share and the ability to direct and plan their own service-learning projects.” “The SMART Youth Solutions to the Achievement Gap™ handbook, was pivotal.” As this group continues to expand its ambitions it relies on the high school mentors to recruit and train new mentors, cultivating an aura of service in their school community.
From upper left: Matilda Cooke sits with a student from Webster Elementary as he reads, ready to aid if needed. She says that her role is to help them improve their reading, and that she comes back because the kids and the atmosphere are “just amazing.” High school students help the elementary students with their reading and other homework in the model that SWAG was created on.
Middle Row from left: Cheng Xiong aids a student with her handwriting and learning how to write the letters “U” and “S.” A substitute teacher watches over a group as they create with each other using beads. A high school mentor is seen seated at the table in the foreground right side of the picture.
Bottom row from left: students in this group are working with Kinex as a way to understand how to work with each other, how to engineer stable structures. They begin with simple bridges and work up to the more complex coaster structures. A group playing soccer, an activity that is just plain fun, but also cultivates teamwork, role modeling, sportsmanship, and coordination amongst other valuable skills.
Get Inspired at the National Service-Learning Conference
H2O for Life has been a participant in the Annual Service Learning Conference for the past 5 years. The conference is always a highlight of our year. Teachers and students alike are bubbling with enthusiasm, and eager to share their passions while learning more through exciting service-learning sessions.
Years ago at an NYLC conference in Albuquerque I attended a session led by teacher Jini Loos and her students from the Haverford School. The students eloquently told their story about their support of a project in the Congo. Their photos and testimonials brought tears to my eyes and inspired me to create H2O for Life as a service-learning opportunity for schools across the nation to participate in a global connection.
Now, six years later, and hundreds of school connections later, I am honored to be a part of the service-learning community. H2O for Life engages, educates and inspires youth to study the global water crisis while taking action to change lives for students in schools around the world. Initially, we looked at our program as a solution for developing world schools to receive water- and they do! But, the power is in our own classrooms. Students quickly realize that water is an important issue in their own back yards. It’s time to educate our youth to be better stewards of water and advocates for this precious resource that is critical today and for future generations. Raising local awareness and providing local solutions paired with the global school action that we provide through school partnerships is relevant and meaningful. Students learn that their actions have impact. There is plenty of time for you to visit our website, choose a global school partner and go into action during this school year. We know that becoming an H2O for Life school will change lives for your partner school and will change your lives as well.
In Denver, we invite you to join teachers from Salem Hills Elementary school that will share how H2O for Life has enhanced curriculum and service for their entire school. We’ll also have a great story to share about an upcoming climb on Mt. Kilimanjaro with a focus on “Women and Water. Director of Schools, Steve Hall, will be climbing the mountain. He’ll be tweeting, blogging and sending video as part of the online climb. Individual students and classrooms are invited to participate in the virtual climb through curriculum provided by H2O for Life. Further information is on our website.
Don’t forget to visit the exhibit hall in Denver. You’ll find many engaging organizations that are filled with resources and ideas that you can take home with you. Come to our booth and create your own H2O for Life bracelet.
Check out this video to learn more about H2O for Life.
Join us today, and share your story with us in Denver.
Let The Music Play at Without Limits
Having attended NYLC’s 23rd annual National Service-Learning Conference in early 2012, my colleagues at the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) and I were excited to hear that the next installment of this incredible event would arrive on our front porch here in Denver in 2013.
When the good people at NYLC asked if I would help to organize entertainment for the conference, immediately my eyes widened and mind raced. With a few minor connections (or so I thought) to “The Music Business,” I envisioned blowing the proverbial roof off this place. I would bring in the biggest local acts – a growing list that includes some well-known bands with national hits – and mix it up with some dance groups, big bands, marching bands, and local flavor like mariachi and powwow. To top it off, I’d reach out to some out-of-state connections to really rock the Colorado Convention Center.
I was ready. I was excited. I was extremely confident.
And then reality set in – I was a bit delusional.
Phone calls and email inquiries went unanswered. When some bands did take my call, I was quickly grounded by some exorbitant and unyielding demands – from monetary compensation to backstage “riders” fit for the likes of The Rolling Stones or Madonna. Yes, I knew I was swinging for the fences by going after some relatively big-name acts, but I did think I would strike out so many times.
I surprised myself by being surprised that some national acts with major 2013 tours already on the books weren’t willing or able to put on a 25-minute set for a great cause.
When I did manage a minor breakthrough and began to draw some interest from an act, it quickly became apparent that many musicians and entertainers have a hard time agreeing to a performance that is scheduled three or four months down the road. Some made commitments on a Monday only to send a late-night email on Wednesday indicating a change of plans.
Oy. A bit of panic set in. Would I let down the NYLC? The entertainment at the 2012 conference in Minneapolis was so good, so varied, and so professional, that I no longer imagined surpassing that effort – I just wanted to get close.
And then some area colleagues stepped in to save the day.
Lisa Guilfoile, my office neighbor and co-worker at the NCLC, got things on track by suggesting longtime Denver favorite Wendy Woo, who has played some of the most popular venues around the country. Wendy was the first to agree to play, and she broke the ice.
Then Dr. Ana-Maria Medina, an assistant professor of Spanish at Metropolitan State University of Denver, joined the committee and rattled off a long list of potential acts in 10-minute phone conversation. That really got the ball rolling.
Soon, my inbox and voicemail were filling up. Musicians, magicians, poets, artists, and dancers were reaching out – word was getting around fast. One musician who has agreed to perform, Scott Milroy, said he would take the day off from his 9-to-5 job just because he wanted to be part of this wonderful event. One young comedian said he didn’t have any performances online that we could review, but he offered to come down to our office here in Denver to show us what he can do – that offer, let’s just say, remains up in the air.
With the holiday season here and everyone’s schedule packed full, it seems like there hasn’t been enough time to make this work perfectly. And there still are a few holes left to fill, and the dates of the conference are only getting closer.
However, thanks to help of our service-learning and youth-minded friends, along with the sterling reputation of the NYLC, there indeed will be entertainment to give us all a little boost throughout the day.
Let the music play!
Brady Delander is an assistant editor for the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) at the Education Commission of the States (ECS) in Denver.
Gather and Network at the National Service-Learning Conference
Each year the Service-Learning Young Professionals event gains steam at the National Service-Learning Conference. The National Service-Learning Partnership created the Service-Learning Young Professionals as a grassroots gathering. Often held in a hotel suite year after year, the event is growing in size and numbers as new professionals enter the service-learning field. This year the event will be better than ever and promises many opportunities to network with others from around the country.
At my first National Service-Learning Conference in San Jose, California in 2010, I was able to connect with other young professionals from the field because of this event. This completely changed my conference experience and made me feel a part of a larger community. Those attendees that I met introduced me to leaders in the field, recommended workshops I should attend, and are still people I connect with today.
On Thursday, March 14th, Service-Learning Young Professionals will be gathering at Howl at the Moon in Denver, CO. Howl at the Moon is a lively piano bar located in Denver’s historic district known for their nightlife, restaurants, and arts. This event is open for everyone 21+ interested in service and service-learning at the conference, we encourage young professionals as well as experienced veterans to attend.
Howl at the Moon Doors open at 7 pm and the piano show begins at 8 pm. Be sure to let the door person know you are with the young professionals gathering and come before 9 pm to avoid paying a cover. There will be appetizers for all in attendance thanks in part to Roundabout Ventures and the Generator School Network. We can’t wait to see you there!
Get Ready for Digital Learning Day!
In celebration of Technology Month as we inch closer to Digital Learning Day next week, we developed a list of tech resources to use in your service-learning. Wherever you land on the spectrum from novice to techie, this is a valuable collection that will make easy work of your service-learning tech needs.
Here is a small sampling of the great tools we've found:
Technology Resources for Service-Learning
Below are many technology tools that you can use in a service-learning project. The list is not exhaustive but does focus on programs that are free and have been used by members and staff.
Video tools can enable students to advocate for a certain issue to a large audience, spread awareness of a service event, or be used to peer-teach:
Animoto is a video creation service (online and mobile) that makes it easy and fun for anyone to create and share extraordinary videos using their own pictures, video clips, words and music.
Go!Animate is the world’s #1 do-it-yourself animated video website. Produce professional-looking videos from scratch – within minutes – then share them with the world.
WeVideo lets you create videos “in the moment” wherever you are, giving you full creative control and the ability to collaborate with others on video stories.
TeacherTube is an educator and student friendly site for sharing the best content (audio, video and much more) for your class.
Screencast-O-Matic features free, one-click screen capture recording for Windows or Mac computers with no install.
For the complete list and other free resources, visit the Technology & Service-Learning topic in the Generator School Network: http://gsn.nylc.org/topics/318
If you use any of these resources, or any that we missed, tell us about it here for a chance to win a Kindle Fire!
Ten Reasons to Attend the 24th Annual National Service-Learning Conference
If you still have not yet registered to attend this year’s National Service-Learning Conference, Without Limits, here are ten great reasons why you should join NYLC and conference co-host Earth Force in Denver, CO:
- The National Service-Learning Conference is the only national conference that convenes the whole service-learning field — adults, young professionals, and youth!
- Affordable registration includes four days of professional development, meals, negotiated discounts on hotel rates, and memories to last a lifetime. (Check out the schedules and highlights).
- Denver — the Mile High City — is a clean, young, and green city with more than 200 parks, dozens of tree-lined boulevards, and boasts 300 days of sunshine.
- The Exhibit Hall is a bustling center of activity for you to win prizes, explore the Service-Learning Showcase, participate in on-site service-learning projects, and discover organizations that offer innovative products and services.
- Networking opportunities give you a chance to meet young leaders, passionate educators, and global experts in education.
- Volunteer sites, including the Day of Service in the Denver Children’s Corridor, have already been confirmed to give you a chance to serve the Denver community.
- Learn from the best in the field during plenary and thought leader sessions, receptions, informal meetings, and nearly 100 workshops.
- World-renowned speakers, including Reginald Dwayne Betts and Naomi Tutu, share the spotlight with youth emcees Danielle, Kaitlyn, and Jorge.
- The Generator School Network® allows you to connect with participants before the conference begins, and will provide lasting resources from workshop presenters once it’s over.
- NYLC is turning 30! Join us on Friday, March 15 for an NYLC 30th Anniversary dance party to celebrate three decades of work.
Have you attended in the past? Excited about joining us this year? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter, hashtag #NYLC13!
On-Site Projects at Without Limits!
Without Limits is the theme of this year’s National Service-Learning Conference in Denver and the On-Site Projects Committee has been working literally since the end of the conference in Minneapolis last April. I love the National Service-Learning Conference! There is an energy here that I do not find at other conferences, so it is my #1 pick every year! No matter the location—from Providence to San Jose to Atlanta to Minneapolis—the projects and presentations are Without Limits and so will your ideas be for projects you can complete in your setting.
What is so special about this conference and my chairing the On-Sites Projects Committee? Part of the excitement is working with people throughout the United States to develop the projects that will take place on-site and that you, as participants, can complete. My committee works to develop 6-8 different projects that will engage participants who walk through the convention center. All projects are different and you can stop by to participate for a few minutes or you can spend as much time as you wish helping with a project. For example, in Denver you can help make educational games for under-privileged children who do not have any, create seed bombs to take home to beautify your city or help to clean and package 1,200 pounds of dry, edible beans for the hungry in the greater Denver metro area. Please come and find out what all of our projects are and lend a hand!
We look forward to seeing you in Denver. We encourage you to spend what time you can to help with a project that will benefit others in a positive and meaningful manner. The ways you can help are Without Limits!
Barb Witteman is the Chair of the 2013 National Service-Learning Conference On-Sites Committee
Celebrating Technology Month on the GSN
At NYLC we are celebrating Technology Month as we near Digital Learning Day, a national campaign that celebrates teachers and shines a spotlight on successful instructional practice and effective use of technology in classrooms across the country. NYLC is proud to be partners with the Alliance for Excellent Education in this exciting campaign.
During Technology Month, we’re recognizing the ability of technology to advance service-learning. Here are a few of the things we’re doing:
The Generator School Network is giving away a Kindle Fire to one lucky GSN member who updates their tech-focused service-learning project between January 1 and Digital Learning Day on February 6. Only tech-focused projects are eligible. GSN members are doing creative things with technology in service-learning, like connecting with their community through social media, or like Member of the Month Elissa Cottle, through a student-run newspaper.
Elissa is the GSN’s featured member for Technology Month, and is among the ever-expanding group of service-learning practitioners boldly embracing technology as a way to enhance their practice. As part of her afterschool project students, can learn about journalism and photography, exercising important skills the regular school day can’t always make time for. Interviewing students and staff on school issues, the digital publication they create serves student body, parents, and teachers alike. Elissa also encourages any young artists to submit cartoons and creative writing for publication.
“Helping students tap into their creativity opens the door to a fulfilling relationship with oneself,” Elissa said in describing her passion for service-learning. You can read more about Elissa's projects here.
NYLC is featuring technology-oriented resources this month. On Thursday, January 24, NYLC is hosting a webinar, Technology and Service-Learning: An Engaging Combination, in which we will explore the parallels between service-learning and technology, as well as specific technology tools that lend themselves to project-based learning and service. The session includes project examples from the field to show how technology can enhance reflection as well as direct, indirect, and advocacy forms of service. Webinars are free to attend, sign up today!
We also have recorded webinars available to watch any time, on integrating STEM and service-learning, or about online learning cohorts and professional learning communities.
This is a remarkable time for technology and for service-learning. We hope you will join NYLC and so many others across the service-learning field as we marshal these unique strategies for student success and engagement.
