Teacher Tools for the Service-Learning Cycle
Starting in Spring 2010, The Generator has been examining each step in the service-learning cycle with articles, profiles, and hands-on teacher tools to connect the ideas to practice. These teacher tools are rich with ideas and activities that will help you get moving on your service-learning projects.
The Service-Learning Cycle Step 1: Identify Academic Goals
This Teacher Tool, an insert in each issue of the quarterly Generator, helps teachers and administrators with the first step of the Service-Learning Cycle, identifying academic goals. A series of "essential questions" are posed to help administrators and teachers consider how service-learning can help meet existing goals, and a sidebar includes a list of service-learning and disaster response resources. (The Generator, Spring 2010)
The Service-Learning Cycle Step 2: Identify Genuine Needs
A handout to help teachers and administrators with the second step of the Service-Learning Cycle, identifying genuine needs. Several approaches to identifying community needs are provided and a sidebar includes an additional list of resources. Includes a chart on transforming community needs into service-learning projects. (The Generator, Summer 2010)
The Service-Learning Cycle Step 3: Establish Evidence of Learning
A handout to help teachers and administrators with the third step of the Service-Learning Cycle, establishing evidence of learning. Includes a guide on planning for academic goals and assessment, with an approach on collecting evidence. Includes a checklist of ways to involve students in the assessment process throughout the service-learning cycle. (The Generator, Fall 2010)
The Service-Learning Cycle Step 4: Develop Ownership
A handout to help teachers with the fourth step of the Service-Learning Cycle, developing ownership. Includes a tip sheet on fostering student ownership through formative assessment. (The Generator, Winter 2011)
The Service-Learning Cycle Step 5: Plan and Prepare
This Teacher Tool, an insert in each issue of the quarterly Generator, helps teachers and administrators with the fifth step of the Service-Learning Cycle, plan and prepare. We go in-depth on the four stages of backward instructional planning and include a sample unit plan and form. (The Generator, Spring/Summer 2011)
The Service-Learning Cycle Step 6: Conduct Meaningful Service
This Teacher Tool, an insert in each issue of the quarterly Generator, helps teachers and administrators with the sixth step of the service-learning cycle, Conduct meaningful service. Brainstorming ideas on documentation and a list of project reflection questions are also included. (The Generator, Fall 2011)
The Service-Learning Cycle Steps 7 and 8: Evaluate the Experience and Demonstrate New Understanding
The Teacher Tool is an element of each issue of The Generator, this quarter’s tool helps teachers and administrators with the last two steps of the service-learning cycle, evaluate the experience and demonstrate new understanding. This tool includes a rubric for evaluating student blogs, and excerpts of project-based assessments on three of the eight K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Service. (The Generator, Winter/Spring 2012)
