Service Learning Librarian

Another article highlighting an example of integrating service-learning and information literacy found me this morning, Combining academic service-learning and information literacy: A new framework for an introductory women's studies course by Solange Simoes and Suzanna Gray can be found in the Eastern Michigan University Digital Commons at http://commons.emich.edu/sotl/vol2/iss1/8/

Recently, WSU's Office of Service Learning offered a "coffee and conversation" on a Monday morning, during which those in attendance discussed the article, "Renewing the Civic Mission of the American Research University" by Barry Checkoway.  This article is a must-read for all in higher education, if you ask me!  It was published in The Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 27, No. 2 (March/April 2011).  (I also added the citation to the recommended reading section of this blog).  I had a conflict and was unable to attend the discussion, but I had the read the ... Continue reading

Maybe that should be the name of my blog.  It's official.  I'm a service-learning junkie!  I signed up for a book discussion hosted by the WSU Center for Teaching and Learning in February, during which we'll discuss the book Service-Learning in theory and practice:  The future of community engagement in higher education by Dan W. Butin. That itself may not indicate that I'm a junkie, but the fact that I can't wait to dig into the book - maybe that confirms it!  And if that doesn't, then the fact that I was giddy when it was just dropped off at my desk - ... Continue reading

The  planning for EDT 110: Civic-centered research has begun!  My co-teacher and I are updating the syllabus, and going over our notes from the debrief after last winter's course to make the appropriate changes. We had to change the course title in order to fit into the registrar's system.  The new SRVI (Service learning intensive) designation in the course catalog, takes away some of the course name 'real estate,' thus, we had to change it at the last minute.  Now, the course will be called Civic-centered research (the old name was Community Research Connections). ... Continue reading

This article by Fran Smith did my heart some good!  Although quite a few service-learning projects were highlighted, the one that stands out to me involved some high school students who did far more than was asked of them.  When they discovered that their community partner school didn't have a library, they took matters into their own hands and built one! My favorite paragraph is this one: "Teachers encouraged the kids to think modestly -- collect old books, raise a few dollars to buy wood and brackets, and recruit parents to build shelves. But the students, far less ... Continue reading

Minnesota Campus Compact is offering a webinar that looks very interesting, Service-Learning in Online Courses: Practical Considerations and Strategies.  I've often wondered about how service-learning would work in an online course. You can find the details here.

A few weeks ago, I attended the Ohio Teaching and Learning Conference on High Impact practices in higher education (co-sponsored by Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education, Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, Ohio Board of Regents and Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities).  I was thrilled to see George Kuh, the keynote speaker.  I always think it's pretty cool to be in the same room with the people you cite all the time!  Talk about the social nature of research! You just never know when you'll have that opportunity, and what new ... Continue reading

A few weeks ago I encountered my first service-learning naysayer in person.  I've read about these people before...those who think service-learning is a passing fad.  And I finally encountered one in person.  I wasn't adequately prepared to deal with it.  On my way home that day, it came to me - what I should have said.  "Citizenship never goes out of style."  I hardly believe service-learning a passing fad.  It has roots back to John Dewey in the early 1900s and his concept of "public education."  And there will certainly NOT be a ... Continue reading

I'm thrilled that I have yet another opportunity to work with a service-learning class next week.  SRV 200:  Citizenship in our Democracy is the introductory course for our Citizen Scholar certificate program. The instructor, Cathy Sayer (also our Director of Service-Learning), is asking her students to write final reflections that use their course readings on citizenship, their experience at the service sites and another source to inform their writing.  The class is small, and they are serving at three different sites, including an urban high school, an arboretum and a ... Continue reading

A few weeks ago, I attended a lecture on campus given by Hunt Brown, Director of Sustainability and Senior Lecturer, Earth & Environmental Sciences, about a fascinating service-learning course he taught here at WSU.   The course, UH 203, took place during intersession 2007 (that's the break between fall and winter quarters), and included a one-week service trip to New Orleans, about two years after Hurrican Katrina hit.  The students researched economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainability in New Orleans.  If you're wondering why Hunt was lecturing ... Continue reading